James F. Macintire, retired river pilot

James F. Macintire, 83, of Lewes, passed away Friday Oct. 26, 2012, after a long illness. He was born in Lewes Nov. 5, 1928, son of the late Howard F. and Fredonia (White) Macintire. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister,  Ann M. Martin.

Mr. Macintire graduated from Lewes High School in 1946 and attended the University of Delaware from 1947-48, where he was manager of the lacrosse team. In 1948 he began his apprenticeship as a Delaware River pilot and became a member of the Pilots' Association for the Bay and River Delaware in 1952. He was an active pilot for 38 years until his retirement in 1990.  He loved piloting and was proud to be a third generation pilot.

Jim was a past president of the Lewes Historical Society, a past president of the Friends of the Lewes Library, and a past commodore of the Lewes Yacht Club. He was a lifelong member of St. Peter's Church in Lewes, where he served as a vestryman and helped count the weekly offering for many years. He was a skilled cabinetmaker and woodworker and many of his friends own one of his candlesticks or other pieces. He enjoyed hunting, coin collecting and photography. He was also an avid model railroader; his large collection includes trains that he owned as a boy. He loved decorating the house for the Christmas holidays, especially if his trains could be included. He always had a joke to tell, and was still telling them a few days before his passing.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ruth Plummer Macintire; his brother Robert and his wife Bette of Lewes; his three sons: Charles and his wife Susan of Lewes, Jeff and his partner Markus Meier of Washington, D.C., and Bill and his wife Lori, of Frankfort, Ky.; and three grandchildren: Lindsey, Benjamin, and Elizabeth Macintire.

There will be a visitation at the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 4. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 5, at St Peter's Episcopal Church, 200 2nd Street, Lewes with burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jim's memory to St Peter's Episcopal Church, Lewes, or to the Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter St. Lewes DE  19958.