Obituary for James Hand

Ponca City Now - April 7, 2019 8:54 am

James Burton Hand – Veteran

August 4, 1937 – March 29, 2019

James B. Hand former resident of Ponca City, OK has gone to heaven. He was 81 years old. A graveside service will be held at Longwood Cemetery on Monday, April 8, 2019 beginning at 10 o’clock in the morning. Mark Russell will officiate.

James was born on August 4, 1937 in Ponca City the son of Robert James Hand and Lois Wittmer Hand. He was educated in Ponca City and graduated from PoHi. Shortly after graduation he joined the U.S. Navy where he served his country for three years. He received his higher education from Long Beach State University in California. James worked as a computer engineer for the Navy, Boeing, McDonald Douglas, and even NASA.

Me married Mei P. Ow, the love of his life, on November 9, 2001 in Tucson Arizona. He proposed by saying, “Hey, let’s get married.” He was so sure she would say yes, that he had already booked the courtroom for the following day. When they showed up, the justice of the peace asked who their witnesses were. That was one small detail James had forgotten. The judge went out into the lobby and came in with an older couple to be their witnesses. There was only one problem. The couple only spoke Spanish. So, the judge had to read the vows first in English for James and Mei and them again in Spanish for the witnesses.

His hobbies included antiquing and traveling to the UK to antique. He built, repaired and restored antique clocks and watches. Late in life he discovered his true passion, fly fishing. James said that he had “Wasted a lifetime not fly fishing.”

He leaves behind to cherish his memory wife Mei of the home, Son Colin Hand of Tucson, Arizona, daughter Stephanie Hand and her husband Jason of Portland, Oregon, sister Kitty Russell and her husband Mark of Ponca City, uncle Howard Watson and his wife Delores, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and a host of cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert Hand, Tom Hand and Terry Watson.

Although he is gone, he will never be forgotten.