James (Jim) Rodney McCullum

James (Jim) Rodney McCullum of Noblesville, Indiana passed away on January 25, 2025. Jim was born on December 16, 1930 in Connersville, Indiana to parents Alfred and Ruby McCullum (Selby). 

He graduated from Richmond High School in 1949 where he played trombone in the band and was described by his classmates as “swell” and serious. Indeed, Jim was a serious student. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (1954) and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan (1975). He retired as a Program Manager of Advanced Technology in 1997 after 33 years of service to the Borg Warner Automotive Group. This job took him around the world, including trips to China, Japan, England, and Germany. 

He was a true child of the Great Depression, raised to be self-reliant and resilient. He was also mechanically inclined, tinkered constantly, and an avid woodworker who built many beautiful projects for his family members. He would often say, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” He enjoyed the simple things in life: quiet time with family, reading the news in the morning with a cup of black coffee, watching his favorite Hoosier sports teams, enjoying the views from the home he helped design, and eating his favorite dessert—cherry pie. He was above all practical, you’d never catch him without a toothpick or pen in his shirt breast pocket. 

While Jim will be remembered as a logic-driven and hardworking engineer, his real legacy is as a devoted family man; a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was loyal, true, and meticulous with his family affairs. He is predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Mary Elizabeth McCullum (Spotts), who passed exactly one day and five years before him. They married on August 19, 1961 and raised their family in Muncie, Indiana and Detroit, Michigan. He is also predeceased by his parents and his brother R. Gene McCullum.

He is survived by his sons Rodney (Melissa) McCullum of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Ken (Linda) McCullum of West Des Moines, Iowa; and his five grandchildren: Kathryn McCullum, Michael McCullum, Connor McCullum, Shane McCullum, and Lauren McCullum. 

Visitation for James will be held at Flanner Buchanan – Hamilton Memorial Park (Lakeview Chapel), 4180 Westfield Road, Westfield, IN, on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery. If you wish to leave a condolence or message, please do so below.