Truscott, James C.

  Dec. 7, 1914 - Dec. 5, 2010 

Resident of Livermore James was 95 years old at the time he passed away in Livermore, CA, on Sunday, December 5th, 2010, only two days away from his 96th birthday. He died of natural causes. He was a loved and adored husband, father, friend, and was the patriarch of the entire Truscott family. James was born in Grass Valley, CA, December 7th, 1914. He was the second of 5 children born to James and Elizabeth Grace, Truscott. He had one sister, Myra, and three brothers, Richard, Raymond and David. The family later moved to Oakland, CA, where he grew up. He was a devoted family man who took over as primary caretaker and provider for his mother and siblings after his father died when he was a young adult. Growing up, James was involved in sports, ROTC, printing and was a newspaper carrier. He was called to duty in WWII and served as a telephone wire technician and worked his way to Sergeant. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and The Siegfried Line where he earned a Bronze Star for going above and beyond the call of duty that resulted in saving many lives. During the war he honed his skills as an artist, cartoonist and as a baseball player. While in the service, he contributed his artistic talents to many military publications and often did drawings for his friends to send home as greeting cards. He played baseball with his division's team as a star pitcher. When he returned home, he kept playing baseball in a semi-pro California league and pitched a no hit game among his other record making accomplishments. James worked for the Oakland Tribune from 1937 through 1976. He was a district advisor who managed the paper distribution in Livermore from 1958 until his retirement. During his time with the Oakland Tribune, he earned many awards for excellence in his work and gave many young boys their first job, delivering newspapers. James married Helen Marion Herron in 1951. They were married until she passed away in 2001, just days before their 50th wedding anniversary. They had two children, Denise and Craig. They moved to Livermore, CA in 1959, where they raised their family. In retirement James and Helen traveled the world together, bowled, played golf and enjoyed their family. James loved sports and was an avid golfer and bowler. He was a regular league bowler at the Granada Bowl for nearly 50 years. In retirement, he bowled in the senior's league at Granada Bowl two days a week. In fact, a week before he passed away he bowled a 178 game! He loved to bowl and he loved all of his friends at the bowling alley. James was a wonderful, loving father and is survived by his daughter, Denise Carol Truscott and her husband, Gary Sittser of Redding, CA, his son, Craig James Truscott and his wife Alyce of Livermore, CA, granddaughters, Jenene Carol Wilson, her husband, Todd, and Stassia June Sittser of Redding, CA, and great granddaughter, Evalynn Carol Wilson, of Redding, CA. He is also survived by, his brothers Raymond Truscott of Hayward, CA, and David Truscott of New York, and many nieces, nephews and their children. Specials thanks go to Alyce Truscott, his daughter-in-law, who cared for him with love, kindness and understanding for the last few years of his life. Thanks to her, he was able to live life on his own terms with relative independence. I know he loved her like a daughter and was extremely grateful for all that she did for him, as am I. James was a true gentleman and will genuinely be missed by his family and friends.

Bob Valli