Ian Charlton James

Ian Charlton James, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, died peacefully at his home in Kennett Square, on October 23, 2024.

Ian was born May 20, 1939, in Kilmarnock, Scotland, to Joseph S. and Kathleen James.  He was educated at Kilmarnock Academy and at Waverley Grammar School in Birmingham, England.  Ian earned an associate degree from the London College of Music, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Widener University, PA.  Ian served in the British Army, mainly in MI4 in Germany.

After several jobs in Europe, Ian immigrated to the U.S. in 1973.  He worked for the DuPont Company as an international economist for 20 years, and several other companies before retiring in 2010.

Ian was a voracious reader, enjoyed many aspects of music and theater, and enjoyed gardening and travel.

At the time of his death, Ian was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, where he was active in several aspects of worship.  He had previously been active at Advent Lutheran Church in West Chester and at Presbyterian Church of Covenant in Wilmington, Delaware.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice; his three sons, Andrew, Bryan (Mary), and Christopher (Annie); and his grandchildren, Sarah, Benjamin, Michael, Dylan, Ellison, Chrystopher and Jonathon; great-grandchildren, Ned, Monty and Dottie; stepson, Geoff Hoffman (Holly); stepdaughters, Cathy Wickens (Justin) and Sara Karunarathna (Nuwan) and eleven step grandchildren. Ian was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Lawrence, who died in Coleshill, U.K., in 2023.  Also survived by two nephews, Duncan and Alex, and a niece, Lisa, in England.

There will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester, PA.  A reception with the family will follow the service

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests the memorial gifts be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Rd., West Chester, PA 19382.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ian Charlton James, please visit our floral store.