James Alexis Gwinn, Sr., MD

August 13, 1925-May 5, 2022

In the same home in which he was born, James Alexis Gwinn, Sr. 96 of Lockbridge, West Virginia went to be with his Lord on May 5, 2022. He was with his loving wife, Susan Cline, of 23 years. "Dr. Jim" was preceded in death by his parents, Cornelius Breckenridge Gwinn and Golda Lea Ramsey Gwinn, as well as all of his brothers and sisters, Paul, CB "Nean", John Wesley, Larry, Nathanial, Joy, Faith, Gloria, Mabel, and one grandson, Matthew.

He is survived by his wife Susan, and his mother-in-law, Betty Cline; his children from his previous wife Gladys Jones, Jimmy, Judith, Neil, Susan and Jonathan. He is survived by 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

During Jim's youth, he helped his parents on the farm in Lockbridge and in the Gwinn General Merchandise Store. Weekends and summers were occupied with baseball games on the Lockbridge School grounds and traveling with his father to Hinton and Crozet for grain, peaches and other grocery stock. Sundays were family days celebrating at the Lockbridge Methodist Church. Jim graduated from Sandstone High School in 1943, having played football and basketball. As did many of his friends and three of his brothers, he enlisted in the Army Airforce and served as a waist gunner in the 389 ^th Bomb Group, flying 22 missions from England to Germany. After returning from World War II, Jim obtained his college degree from the University of Tennessee (always a Vol) in psychology and philosophy. He worked for the Social Security Administration while raising his family and embarked on obtaining his lifelong dream of becoming a medical doctor from the University of Tennessee Medical School at Memphis.

After graduating in 1963, he opened a family practice in Damascus, Virginia. In the early 1970s he became an Emergency Room Physician, a practice just beginning in the states at that time. In 1980 he returned to West Virginia and was the head of Emergency Physicians at Raleigh General Hospital and began a part time position at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Beckley. He later became the full time Chief Medical Officer at the MEPS in 1996, serving his country until 2016, retiring at the age of 91. Jim was proud to return to his family farm, a WV Legacy Farm, and play many rounds of golf with his brothers in his later years. He loved music and enjoyed singing in the Lockbridge United Methodist Choir. Considering family genealogy most important, he presided over the Gwinn Reunion for many years in Lockbridge. Jim adhered to his father's advice to be honest and good and it will come back to you. His many travels to Europe and the States truly made "Dr. Jim" a universal man of compassion, gentleness and patience. Jim will be sorely missed by his constant dog companion, Wolfgang.

A special note of gratitude must be extended to John Tabor, Ruth Ellen McClure, Jeff Diehl, Donna Diehl, and nurse Deana, who made Jim's journey possible in his home.

Funeral services for Dr. Gwinn will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday May 14, 2022 at Pivont Funeral Home Chapel in Hinton with The Rev. John Vance, PhD, and Elder William A. Catus officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the DeQuasie Cemetery at Lockbridge, WV. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be; John Tabor, Jeff Diehl, Butch Brandstetter, Michael T. Gwinn, Bleau Gwinn, Sky Gwinn and David Richmond.