Obituary of James M Walling

James M Walling August 16, 1946 - January 28, 2020 Jim passed away on Tuesday, January 28, at his home in Washougal. He was a 1964 graduate of Washougal High School and an active member of the community throughout his life, especially involved with youth activities. He was a board member of Bethel Community Church, a foster parent, a volunteer with Young Life, a coach and official with Odyssey of the Mind and later Destination Imagination, and a long-time supporter of Washougal basketball, as well as of the high school sports teams of his niece, nephews, and their children. Jim loved fishing and clam digging his entire life, and in his younger days enjoyed waterskiing and hunting. He was at his happiest when in the presence of friends and was known by his family as the funniest grandpa around. He loved trips to Long Beach, Washington, and Lincoln City, Oregon with his grandchildren, and to the Washington State high school basketball tournament with his friends and brother. Jim gave his life to Christ as a young adult, as the result of involvement with Young Life and Bethel Community Church. Faith in God remained important to him throughout his life, and he encouraged his children and grandchildren to pursue a relationship with Jesus, often reading to them from the Bible at bedtime and praying with them both on a regular basis and in times of great joy and sorrow. It was important to him to point his family to the Lord in all situations. Throughout his life, Jim always prioritized his family—as a father, he would often trade shifts at the paper mill, working nights in order to be available for his kids during the daytime. When his mother became elderly and it was hard for her to get out of the house, he visited her every single morning. When his twin grandsons were born prematurely and had serious health issues, he spent weeks at a time at their home in Toronto helping to care for the sick baby, once flying out of PDX on less than an hour’s notice for a serious illness. He was a loving and faithful husband—he and Tina made a good team in everything from foster care to home renovations to youth work at church. Jim is survived by Tina, his wife of 51 years, his daughters Joan and Grace, their husbands, and four grandchildren: Adonijah (11), Lena (10), Felix (6), and Max (6), and by his brother Bill and his family. Services will be held at Bethel Community Church on Friday, January 31 at 1:00 PM. For any wishing to make memorial contributions, donations may be made to Young Life at https://www.younglife.org/Giving/Pages/default.aspx, an organization that was pivotal in Jim’s life and development as a young man and an adult. Arrangements have been entrusted to: Brown's Funeral Home, Camas, WA. 360-834-3692.