James was born on December 1, 1943, in Rubottom, the son of
James Jackson and Mildred Marcella (Miller) Caldwell. He was
raised in Leon where he also attended schools and graduated with
the Class of 1962. Following graduation, he moved to Andrews, TX
where he worked in the oil field until he was drafted into the
military. James served in the United States Army from March 9,
1965, until he was honorably discharged on February 15, 1967.
During his service, he earned the rank of Specialist E-4 and was
awarded the Expert Rifle, Good Conduct, and National Defense
Service Medals. James was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany where
he was a radio telecommunications operator and specialized in
teletype during the Viet Nam War.
When James returned from the service, he made his home in
Marietta where he worked at Marietta Sportswear. A few months
later he met and fell in love with Carol Wheeler. They married
on February 2, 1968. Together, they made their home in
Kingston.
James began taking classes at Murray State College in August of
1968. He graduated there with his associate degree in 1970. He
then attended to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in
Durant, OK where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education
focusing on biological sciences in May of 1972. James began
teaching biology and chemistry at Kingston High School in August
of 1972. He immediately started working on his master’s degree
in education administration at SOSU. James earned that degree in
1974. That same year, he accepted the middle school/high school
principal position at Springer, OK Public School. After one year
there, he returned to Kingston to serve as high school principal
for three years. During his principal tenure, James attended
classes at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
University, and completed his superintendent’s certification at
Central State University in Edmond, OK. He accepted the
superintendent position at Kingston in 1978 where he served for
the next 13 years. In June of 1991 James accepted the
superintendent position in Barnsdall, OK and served there until
June of 1994. He then served as superintendent in Antlers, OK,
until his retirement in 1998.
In August of 1998, James and Carol returned to their home in
Kingston. James spent the next 25 years in his yard and garden
and spent countless hours with his children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren. He was always proud of the vegetables he
grew, his yard, his wife, and the accomplishments of his
children and grandchildren.
James is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mildred; two
brothers, Jackie Ray Caldwell and BG Caldwell; and three
sisters, Janice Graham, Rhonda Navarro, and Mary Buckaloo.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carol of the
home; son, Jason Caldwell and wife Melissa of Kingston;
daughter, Jamie Schrunk and husband Jordan of Kingston; six
grandchildren, Jessica Bumpass and husband Bryce of Kingston,
Jaime Furister and wife Hannah of Healdton, OK, Daniel Furister
of Kingston, Hunter Caldwell of Katy, TX, Christopher Salas and
wife Mallori of Prague, OK, and Phoenix Salas of Kingston; eight
great-grandchildren, Parker Young, Hadley Bumpass, Remington
Furister, Konner Furister, Banks Bumpass, Avalon Salas, Haven
Caldwell, and Bowen Furister; sisters, Callie McGill and husband
Vance of Thackerville, OK, Carmen Cox of Marietta, and Marcy
Bartee and husband Tony of Marietta; and brothers, Mike Caldwell
and wife Connie of Sanger, TX, Robert Caldwell and wife Connie
of Ardmore, and Bill Caldwell and fiancée Deanne of Marietta.
