Obituary of James McElroy

James C. McElroy, Jr. January 26, 1933 - October 10, 2025 Shelton resident and United States Reserve Army (Ret.) Major General James (“Jim”) C. McElroy, Jr., Ed.D died peacefully at the age of 92 on October 10, 2025. At his side during the last several months was his wife of almost five years, Linda Springer, a constant and loving presence. Jim’s life was distinguished by his exceptional leadership and service to his country, his church and all the communities in which he lived and the abiding friendships he made with the people whose lives he touched wherever he worked and made his home. Born on January 26, 1933 to James C. McElroy, Sr. (“Carroll “) and Vera (Cogswell) McElroy, Jim grew up in Tacoma, California and Shelton and graduated from Shelton’s Irene S. Reed High School in 1951. Upon graduation, he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army, was selected to attend Infantry Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and received his commission as a second lieutenant. In 1956, upon leaving active military service, Jim attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, from which he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and embarked on a 25-year civilian career as an educator. He initially taught 5th grade and high school geography and history and became the Assistant Superintendent of the Bridgewater-Raritan New Jersey school district, with a population of 10,000 students. While in active military service and at the start of his career as an educator, Jim became the proud father — along with their mother Margaret (“Peg”) — of three amazing daughters, Kathy, Carol and Susan. His final assignment as an educator was as the principal of the Faber School in Dunellen, where he was beloved by the students, parents and staff. Jim’s service in the military advanced in tandem with his civilian accomplishments. When he left active military duty, he joined the 78th Division, which consisted of nearly all Army Reserve forces in New Jersey. He rose through the ranks and was inducted into the Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in 1977 and attended and graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S Army War College. He attained the rank of Major General, commanded the 78th Division and served as Deputy Commanding General (Reserve) of the First U.S. Army, encompassing the fourteen states of the northeastern United States. Among other achievements, he led the Army’s Civil Affairs efforts during the invasion of Grenada. After retiring from civilian and military service, Jim returned in 1994 to Shelton, along with his then-wife Maxine, who died in 2015. When Jim returned to Shelton, he rekindled relationships with old friends and made new ones. He also kept in touch with friends from his years in the military and in education, giving many a reason to finally visit his beloved Pacific Northwest. Over the last thirty years in Shelton, Jim brought humor, integrity, and a steadying presence to his friends and communities, as well as his family. He served Mason County and the surrounding area in many capacities. He was a founder of the Shelton Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder and the Church Treasurer. For years, he led Bible Studies at the Church, his home and at Alpine Way. He helped found the Northwest Youth Leadership Institute, which was sponsored by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, at Pacific Lutheran University and which held its 33rd summer program this year. There, he exhorted participants to “be the best you can be,” a creed by which Jim lived. In 2016-17, building upon his knowledge and appreciation for the role of public education, he worked to pass a multi-million-dollar levy to fund construction projects and upgrades for Shelton’s Mountain View Elementary School and its high school, where he served as a backup instructor in its ROTC program. And he promoted innovative services supporting Mason County veterans, including helping to develop supportive housing and providing recommendations and insights related to the Mason County Veterans Court. In 2018, he founded a Reading Tutor Program with Mountain View Elementary which lasted until the Covid lockdowns. He authored two young adult fiction books, “The Bear” and “The Cougar”, based on his own childhood experiences while spending summers at his Cogswell grandparents’ lodge in the Cascade Mountains. His grandfather on his father’s side was the original owner of Mac’s Corner Tavern in Shelton. In addition to his wife Linda Springer, Jim is survived by sisters Lynn Wilson of Shelton and Micki Snider of Nashville, Tennessee; cousin Barbara Miller; daughters Kathy Bedsworth (Gabriella), Carol Small (Jeff), and Susan Goodin; stepchildren Russell Pearce (Michele Hirshman) and Debra Pearce McCall; nephews John and Carl Wilson and Mike and Todd Snider and nieces Becky Wilson and Shannon Lee; grandchildren Rachel, Melissa, Christopher, Casey, Corey, Seth, Kyle, Jacob and Alexander and 7 great-grandchildren, with another expected in March. Jim’s family extends their thanks to Alpine Way staff for their compassionate care of Jim over the last three months. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim’s name to the Shelton Presbyterian Church, the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund, Veterans of Foreign Wars or Paralyzed Veterans of America. A memorial service will be held for Jim on November 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Shelton Presbyterian Church, 1430 Shelton Springs Road. A ceremony will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery on November 10 at 11:30 AM.