James P. Gillespie

JAMES  P.  "BOOMER" GILLESPIE

James P. "Boomer" Gillespie, age 84, 1250 Fairview Ave., Bloomsburg, died at 4:15 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was a patient for 11 days.

Born in Staten Island, New York on July 8, 1926, he was a son of the late Clarence and Katherine (Omlor) Gillespie.

Boomer resided in Bloomsburg since 1929 and was a 1946 graduate of Bloomsburg High School.

Early in his life he owned Gillespie Electric and later  was employed at the fomer US Radium plant in Almedia and at Milco, Industries, Inc. He also was employed at the Bloomsburg Fair and was a home builder.

A member of St. Columba Catholic Church; he also belonged to Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436; Bloomsburg Tennis Club and Three Ponds Golf Club.

Boomer was an avid sportsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, tennis and golfing.

He served with the US Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of Valley of Bloomsburg, American Legion Post 273.

Boomer was preceded in death by a grandson, Jonathan Gillespie, two brothers and a sister.

Surviving are his wife, the former Marjorie S. Ent, with whom he celebrated his 64th wedding anniversary on June 19, 2010; four sons: James R. "Spike" Gillespie, Jr., and his wife Joyce; Hervey A. Gillespie, and his wife Deborah, Peter J. Gillespie, and his wife Maryann, all of Bloomsburg;  Joseph W. Gillespie, Thailand; a daughter, Marjorie A., wife of David Evans, New Tripoli; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The last of his immediate family, he is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a. m. in St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron St., Bloomsburg, by his pastor, Rev. Paul R. Fisher. Interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.

Friends will be received on Sunday from 6-8 p. m. at the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.