James "Jim" Ronald Helton

BLUEFIELD- James Ronald “Jim” Helton, artist, graphic designer, movie aficionado, long term caregiver, and a true English gentleman, departed this world at his home, on the evening November 5, 2015, (on Guy Fawkes’ Day!) following a long illness. He would have gotten great joy from the symbolism, due to his revolutionary nature. He was truly a force to be reckoned with, as those closest to him can attest. Jim was born in 1959 in Bluefield, WV, and lived the last years of his life in Bluefield. He also lived for a time in Charleston, WV, Atlanta, GA, and many years in Lynchburg, VA. He was a loving and devoted son to his parents, Ira Arthur Helton and Dorothy Ruth Jones Helton. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, and by his eldest sister, Brenda “Bodgie” Helton Black of Virginia Beach, Va. He is survived by his sister Deborah Cooper Hager and her husband Dewey Hager, and by his niece, Janet Lyn Cooper, of Princeton, WV, and nephew Robert “Bobby” Cooper with wife and family. Throughout the years, Jim was a dear friend to many, including Dee and Robert Agee, of Bluefield, WV and Jennie and Richard Altare of Hinton, WV. He was a godparent to the children of Richard and Jennie, which include Lara Rutherford Garner, Ana Altare, Nathaniel Altare and Hoyt Altare. Jim lived his life with his own unique sense of style, a wicked sense of humor, and a deep and abiding love for those close to him. He had the soul of an artist and a visionary, and was truly one of a kind. He departed this world at the age of 56, far too soon for those who love him. He will be sorely missed by those who held him in the highest of regard. May his soul find peace reunited with his loved ones who have gone on before him. His wishes were to be cremated and to have his ashes scattered by the sea, and in New York City from the Brooklyn Bridge. He also requested that any memorial chosen by those who cared for him be a private, individual remembering of his place in their lives. He chose to have no organized memorial. His only wish was in lieu of cards or flowers that those who hold his memory with love pass it forward in the form of helping others in whatever manner they so choose. He was a fierce, staunch advocate for his mother and held great empathy for those who suffer from stroke induced vascular dementia, and their families. The last years of his life were devoted to lovingly caring for his mother, who was afflicted and later died in 2014 as a result of the disease. Jim’s life was ultimately a blessing, and it is with both love and a profound sense of sorrow that I close with a quote from the film, “Waking Ned Divine”, written and produced by Kirk Jones. “The words that are spoken at a funeral are spoken too late for the man who is dead. What a wonderful thing it would be to visit your own funeral. To sit at the front and hear what was said, maybe say a few things yourself. (Jim) and I grew old together. But at times, when we laughed, we grew younger. If he was here now, if he could hear what I say, I’d congratulate him on being a great man, and thank him for being a friend.”