James H. Birge age 85 passed away Saturday January 9, 2010 at the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. He was born Sept. 12, 1924 in West Silome Springs, OK to Manuel and Sarah (Ames) Birge.

Jim was a retired millwright and fork trucker operator for Scott Lumber in Patoka. He was a veteran of W.W.II serving in the U.S. Navy. He had lived in Patoka for the past 41 years moving there from Spurgeon, IN. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing horseshoes.

He is survived by a son; Jim W. (Regina) Birge of Patoka, three daughters; Louise (Bob) Bean of Patoka, Ann Shaw of St. Clair, MO, Brenda (Curtis) Thompson of Princeton, two step-daughters; Teddy (Bob) Ventress of Patoka, Stacey Puckett of Carmi, IL, one brother: Bob (Grace) Birge of CA, 15 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; Hattie Birge, five brothers and four sisters.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday January 15, 2010 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Scott Burr officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Patoka. Visitation will from 9 a.m. until the service time on Friday at the Colvin Funeral Home. V.F.W. Post 1147 will conduct military services.