James David Nigh was called to rest in his heavenly home on July 7, 2009 at the age of 78, in Santa Barbara.

He was born March 29, 1931 in Fredonia, Kansas to Norval Charles and Blanche (Alderson) Nigh. He grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he graduated from Ft. Smith High School in 1948. It was a great joy for him to attend his 60th high school class reunion in the fall of 2008. He received his Associate of Arts Degree from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California in 1969 and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Chapman College, Orange California, 1972.


He received his Eagle Scout rank while in high school and spent many years working with the Boy Scouts of America both with his sons in their scouting activities and as a Merit Badge Counselor.


He worked as an ironworker with his father in the early 1950s, served in the US Army in Japan and Korea from 1951-1953, and then served for 20 years in the US Air Force with some of his duties being an electronics technician and a ballistic missile analyst technician. Following his retirement in 1973 he worked as a Field Representative for the Lutheran Laymen's League. He became a life insurance agent for Aid Association for Lutherans and retired from that position in 1991. He began substitute teaching in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District in 1988, a career that brought him much satisfaction and joy.


In recent years he was an active volunteer in the AARP Taxaide program serving as instructor, local coordinator, electronics filer and counselor. He also was a registered tax preparer for his own business.


His hobbies were a love of history, amateur radio-a member of the local Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) group, genealogy, traveling, camping and fishing. He was a member of the Santa Maria nighttime Kiwanis Club.

An active member of Bethany Lutheran Church since 1968 he served in various positions from youth counselor to elder and many different positions on the church council.

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara, sons, Stephen (Sandy) of St. Marie, Montana, and Donald (Teri) of Lompoc, California, brother, Carl (May) of Welacka, Florida, sisters, Lora Hillman, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bessie Barg (Edgar) of Ladysmith, Wisconsin. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Daniel (Anna), Lucas, Stefani (Chris), Pamela, Jacob, Micah, and Sean.

His parents and his brother, Jack, preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on Monday, July 13, 2009, at 3 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church.