James P. Sutton

James ?Pat? Sutton, 89, of Stevensville, died Thursday, February 3, 2005, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 7, 2005, at Saron Lutheran Church, 510 Main St., St. Joseph, with Rev. Dr. Gary Cowall officiating. Visitation is from 1:00 ? 5:00 P.M., Sunday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson?s Foundation. Those who wish to sign the guest book or share a memory online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Pat was born on October 31, 1915 in Wartrace, Tennessee, the last of twelve children, to James Lewis and Etta Sue (Williams) Sutton. He was a brave and well respected man. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, achieving rank of Lieutenant Commander and receiving numerous medals of Honor including the Silver Star and the Purple Heart and Certificate of Appreciation from ?the Grateful and Thankful Free Citizens attending the 54th Manila Liberation Reunion?. Author of the book ?Surviving a Japanese P.O.W. Camp? Peter R. Wygle says of Pat, ?To whom 4000 grateful Ex-P.O.W.?s owe their lives, How do you thank someone for that sort of bravery.? He served in many and varied positions ? attaining the Doctorate of Jurist Prudence in Law and as Sheriff as well as serving as Congressman in the 81st, 82nd, and 83rd U.S. Congress from the state of Tennessee. During his retirement years he enjoyed restoring furniture and antiques at ?The Classics? in Baroda, Mich. Pat is survived by his wife Doris Henderson; six children ? William B. (Linda) Sutton and their son Kevin, of Lawrenceburg, TN, Douglas (Maribeth) Wendt, of Cape Coral, FL, Darrell (Dianna) Henderson and their sons Darrell, Jr., and Joshua of McClenny, FL, Carol (Perry) McCalla and their daughter Casey, of Coloma, Donna Woody and her children Deborah, Kathy, John, and Chris of Lake Worth, FL, and Linda (Brent) Dipert and their sons Brandon and B.J. of Stevensville; many great-grandchildren; and a daughter in law Nanette Henderson and her children Anna, Megan and Steven. Pat was preceded in death by two sons ? David Henderson in 2002, and Robert Henderson in 2004.