James Edwin Munden

James Edwin Munden, Sr., age 95, passed away Friday, January 10, 2020, while at IU Methodist Hospital. He had spent the last six years living with his daughter Genevieve, in Indianapolis, IN. He was born on August 7, 1924, in Smithfield, NC to Otho and Ila (Woodall) Munden. He grew up with his brothers, Thomas Carlton, William Braxton, and sister Julia, on a tobacco farm during the great depression. Together with his father and brother Tom (violin), they performed as “The Munden Family Band” on the radio during this difficult time. The mandolin was the instrument he played with blue-grass being his all-time favorite. James was in the US Navy from 1943 to 1945 during which time he served as a radioman second class on the minesweeper, USS Token (1943). He qualified from officer candidate school (OCS), where he continued his studies at Michigan University and Princeton where he once caught a glimpse of the famous Albert Einstein walking across the campus. He then went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration. He married Corrie Jane Daniel and together, they had two children, Genevieve and James Jr (Jimmy), in Charlotte, NC, where he worked as a representative for Joyce-Munden Company, a wholesale distributor of Hanes apparel and other name brand clothing. They established their home and family on the well-known culdesac, Wentworth Place, a truly magical place to live during the ’50s, ’60’s and ’70s where they enjoyed many special street events, golf outings and dance parties with neighbors who were more like extended family members. Jim and Jane moved to Winston-Salem, NC, in 1977, where Jim went on to retire as president of the company. Together they enjoyed traveling and spending time with the many activities at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. A major highlight in his life occurred in October of 2009 when he accompanied other veterans on a ‘Flight of Honor’ trip to Washington, DC. Jim loved singing in the choir at Holy Comforter in Charlotte and St. Paul’s in Winston-Salem as much as playing golf at Forsyth Country Club and the many locations along the NC and Florida coast. He enjoyed watching football, basketball, and baseball throughout the year and was a true Carolina fan. He volunteered as a tutor, helping young students to read. In his 80’s he wrote and published “The Spring of ’31,” which depicts his life growing up on a tobacco farm during the great depression and his years in the Navy. Jim truly lived his life to the fullest through simple pleasures, spending time with friends and family. He had an uncanny ability to reach people deeply and positively with his calming approach to life. He is survived by his son, James Edwin Munden Jr., daughter Genevieve Munden and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.