NASHVILLE
James Allen “Jim” Milnes, 85, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Feb. 3, 2019 at his home in Nashville.
Jim was born Feb. 19, 1933 in Brown County, to his parents, the late John Daniel and Wilma (Gates) Milnes. He was a 1951 graduate of Helmsburg High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne. Jim was a proud veteran of the United States Navy where he served on the USS Dixie as a machinery repairman second class during the Korean War.
On July 6, 1956, Jim married Freida M. (Eisenmenger) Milnes in Indianapolis; she survives after their 62 years of marriage. He is also survived by their children, Sondra L. (Wayne) Haggard of Avon, Leanne M. (Michael) O’Neil of Nashville and J. Vincent (Jennifer) Milnes of St. Louis; grandchildren, Benjamin Milnes, Diona Christen, Alanna Davis, Connor O’Neil and Haley O’Neil.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Jerry and Ernest Milnes.
Jim retired in 1998 as a senior design engineer for RCA after 38 years of service. Jim’s designs earned three patents. Jim was the recipient of the David Sarnoff Gold Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for his exceptional contributions to electronics. He also tended to his family farm in Brown County during those years.
Jim was an active 30-year member of New Life Community Church. He was a board member of the Brown County School Corp., served as a Brown County councilman for two terms, served on the Brown County Tax Board and as board president of Brown County Farm Bureau. Jim was a dedicated 43-year member in the Brown County Lions Club where he served on many different committees and was a club president.
Jim enjoyed the outdoors by hunting, fishing and raising beef cattle on his family farm. He also enjoyed traveling and logged over 227,000 air miles in one year. Jim was a fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He was the recipient of a kidney transplant in 2011.
The Rev. Tim Conboy will officiate the funeral service at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at New Life Community Church, 1450 State Road 135 North. The Rev. Rick Herman will participate in the service. Special songs, “How Great Thou Art” and “It Is Well With My Soul” will be sung by Charlie Wright. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial with military rites will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Meredith-Clark Funeral Home in Morgantown.
Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Jim to New Life Community Church Missions, P.O. Box 654, Nashville, IN 47448; or to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E. 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Milnes family at meredith-clark.com.
