James Robert Malcolm

(Updated: Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:59 AM CST)

Feb. 21, 2008

James Robert Malcolm (Jim), beloved husband, father and Grampa died Feb. 21 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Roberta (Bert); and their sons James Robert II and wife Kim; Jeffery; Douglas and wife April, and Dustin. Grampa will be sorely missed by grandchildren Robyn (James Robert III) and Blaise.

Born in Oceanside, Calif. to Edith (Hobbs) and James Malcolm on June 7, 1952, Jim grew up in California and New Mexico. Growing up he was a Boy Scout and attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1970. He was also a 1970 Reagan scholar for California and received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in June 1974, joining the Army's Signal Corps as a Second Lieutenant. His military career took him and his family to Fort Bragg, N.C., Wertheim, Germany and Fort Gordon, Ga. He left the Army in 1986, moved to Madison and continued to serve his country in the Army Reserves from which he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1996. As a defense contractor he worked for Teledyne Brown Engineering and C.A.S., Inc. of Huntsville until July of 2007 when illness forced him to retire.

When Jim and Bert made the move to Madison, one of the first things he did was to sign up his sons for the local soccer program. This began a long volunteer career within the city of Madison and the North Alabama community as a coach, referee, instructor, administrator and mentor for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). In August of 2007, he was honored for his work by AYSO Region 498 (Madison) when a soccer field in Dublin Park was named for him. His belief in the importance of sport in the lives of children and their families will continue as his legacy.

In addition to his immediate family and parents, Jim will be missed by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Cheri and Jim Quinn, Sheila and Paul Ricketson, Mary and David Juell, Bert's sister and brother-in-law Daphne and Michael Gawne; as well as nieces, nephews and countless friends, fellow volunteers, fellow grads and co-workers.

Funeral services were held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Madison Feb. 25. Burial will be at West Point in March with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following organizations: The American Youth Soccer Organization, 12501 South Isis Avenue, Hawthorne, CA 90250 or the United Service Organization at USO World Headquarters, Department WS, PO Box 96860, Washington, DC 20090-6860. Madison Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements and has provided an online register books for you to sign at www.madisonchaplefuneralhome.com.

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