James was born on February 5, 1931, to Grady T. and Nettie Mae Hufstetler in Queen City, Texas and passed away at home surrounded by his family in Marshall, Texas on October 11, 2025.

James married the love of his life, Martha Jane Hufstetler on May 25, 1957, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

James enlisted in the United States Navy in November 1947 and served until November 1956 during the Korean Conflict.

He attended Massey Business College in Houston, Alvin Junior College and Manpower Business Training Institute in Houston where he studied data processing and computer programming.

His career took him to multiple companies throughout East Texas, initially retiring from Morton Thiokol in 1985. He soon reentered the workforce and ultimately retired from GTE in Dallas in 1991 as a Programmer Analyst.

James is survived by his wife and best friend of 68 years, 4 months and 16 days, Martha Hufstetler. Three children and their spouses James Randall Hufstetler (Dana), Tiana Jane Hayes (Robert), Roy Jonathan Hufstetler (Kelly). Seven grandchildren: Stephen Beck, Lyndsi Hathaway (Kit), D'Ann Stinedurf (Ryan), Teri Fuller (Daniel), Jonathan Blake Hufstetler, Haleigh Walker (Josh), Kaitlyn Schneider (Caleb), and Avery Hayes. Ten Great-grandchildren: Landen Lee, Logen Lee, Lathen Lee, Elayna Pribilski, Madilyn Hufstetler, Dominic Walker, Jaxson Walker, Trinity Davis, Joshua Davis and Emersyn Schneider. His brother Billy Ray Hufstetler of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

James was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, two brothers and two sisters.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Algoma North Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the funeral home.