Korean War veteran devoted life to military, fellow vets
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Jim Findle saw combat action in Korea and then devoted the rest of his life to the Army, the National Guard and the VFW.
“He was very service-oriented. He gave of himself to others his entire life,” said his son, Jeffery.
An Army veteran, Mr. Findle served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. He went on to become an active member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, where he achieved the rank of chief warrant officer.
He served as quartermaster of Greensburg VFW Post 33 for 23 years and as quartermaster of VFW District 27.
His son described him as a man of honor, integrity and morality. “He had that respectful thing about him, just because of who he was. He didn’t seek it out,” he said.
James P. Findle of Mt. Pleasant Township died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. He was 85.
Born in Trafford on July 10, 1933, he was a son of the late William and Rose (Connolly) Findle. He played football in high school and later enjoyed boxing.
He came from a family that valued military service, his father serving in World War I and two brothers serving in World War II.
“Those guys never mentioned what medals they’d won or what kind of commendations they got. They were humble about that,” his son said.
Mr. Findle worked as a regional manager for Mutual of Omaha out of an office in Greensburg for most of his career.
In addition to weekend duties with the National Guard, he spent time in the summer completing military exercises in Indiantown Gap, his son said.
As VFW quartermaster, he often was the public face of Post 33. He was involved with the post’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 2014 and the French Legion of Honour medal ceremony for Carl Smith in 2016.
Mr. Findle read the William A. Predeau poem “Thank a Vet” during the 2017 Memorial Day service at the Westmoreland County Memorial Park in Hempfield.
He was a VFW life member for 53 years. At the 2015 National Convention, he accepted a National Community Service Award for Post 33.
Mr. Findle was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (Adamson) Findle.
He is survived by his son, Jeffery Findle, of Cary, N.C.; his daughter, Pamela Smith and her husband, Joe, of Laurel, Md.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Barnhart Funeral Home, 505 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment, with full military honors accorded by the VFW Post 33 Honor Guard, will follow in St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg.
Stephen Huba is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Stephen at 724-850-1280, shuba@tribweb.com or via Twitter @shuba_trib.