James Chain

SUFFIELD - James Harry Chain, 82, of Suffield, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Jim is survived by his wife of 41 years, Barbara (Hosler) Folmsbee Chain. Jim was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific on the battleship Nevada from 1944 until the end of the war. He survived typhoons, dive bomber attacks and the bombarding of Iwo Jima. He later witnessed the signing of the surrender of Japan while anchored near the ship Independence. Jim was born in New Brighton, PA, the son of the late Dr. Gerald R. and Mary (Merrick) Chain. He was predeceased by a brother, Dr. Robert R. Chain. A graduate of Grove City College and Hahnemann Hospital in Pennsylvania, he worked as a medical technologist his entire life, establishing Chain Medical Laboratories, Inc., and ended his career as a consultant to Physician's Office Labs. He was active with the A.R.R.L. as KA1CEC and worked on the communications team when the tornado struck Windsor Locks in October of 1979. As a member of the West Suffield Congregational Church, he served on the Prudential and Capital Funds Committee. His time in retirement was filled with reading many books from the Suffield Library. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Spear of Topsham, ME, and Barbara Fox of Enfield, CT. He was stepfather to his wife's children, Nancy Denis and her husband Charles of Colorado, Alan Folmsbee of Hilo, HI, David Folmsbee and his wife Stephanie of Uxbridge, MA, Jeffrey Folmsbee of New York City, and Elizabeth Hodgson of Reseda, CA. Twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren will miss him and his stories; they are Heather Spear, Susan Fox, Jesse Denis, Allison Hodgson, David Folmsbee Jr. and children Samantha and Christine; Aaron Folmsbee and daughter Hannah Lacey, Veronica Zaitoun and daughter Stephanie, Eva Givner and children Bryan Jr., Lily, Calvin James, and Rose; Sabrina Buteyn and children Kelly, Daniel, and Adriana; Teresa Lowrey and son John; Elizabeth B. Folmsbee and Faith Folmsbee. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2008, at the West Suffield Congregational Church, 1409 Mountain Road, West Suffield. All are invited to a reception and luncheon in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. There will be a Navy Burial at Sea for our fallen sailor at a later date. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Capital Fund for Kent Memorial Library, 50 North Main St., Suffield, CT 06078, or to the Capital Fund of the West Suffield Congregational Church, 1409 Mountain Road, West Suffield, CT 06093. Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, MA, is in care of the arrangements.