James Milton "Jim" Sutton

James Milton “Jim” Sutton, age 86, of Elkton, MD, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Born in Arbovale, WV on February 14, 1937, he was a son of the late Herbert and Vada (Gum) Sutton. Jim completed his high school education at Greenbank High School in 1955. Following this, he pursued further studies at Potomac State. After his time at Potomac State, Jim worked with the Naval Academy in Annapolis. His passion for engineering led him to return to academia, where he earned a master’s degree in mathematics from West Virginia University. Not stopping there, Jim furthered his education in statistics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He later pursued obtaining his Certified Financial Planning certification at University of Delaware. Jim met the love of his life on a sailboat in the Caribbean they later married and were together for 55 years. He epitomized the wedding vow ‘of in sickness and in health’ by having been his wife’s primary care giver for several decades. For 20+ years, Jim worked at Hercules. Jim also taught Statistics as an adjunct professor for many years at Widener University, Wesleyan, Wilmington College and Del Tech. Employment with Hercules is what brought Jim and his wife Marge to Elkton from Frostburg, MD in 1976 with their two young children Nicolette (b. 1969) and Nicole (b. 1971). After his career with Hercules, Jim worked for the State of Delaware in DHSS, Information Resource Management (IRM) and one of the IT applications he designed is still in use today. Jim spent his life giving back. It was his love language, as a man of few words, he selflessly volunteered probably tens of thousands of hours. He started his work in the Outreach Program at Newark United Methodist Church in the late 70’s and continued through the 90’s. During this time, Jim sponsored refugee families from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. He worked one weekend a month with Contact, a crisis hotline in Delaware. Jim volunteered with Prime Immigration Ministry, an organization which provides affordable or free services to ensure safe and legal services for non-citizens seeking citizenship. He was also involved with Love Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps to meet unmet needs in the community, by moving furniture every weekend for the newly non homeless. In 2008 Jim was one of 5 recipients in Delaware that was nominated for the Jefferson Award. The award is given annually in the United States for extraordinary public service. Jim’s love for numbers led him to volunteering with AARP in helping prepare taxes. He also did this for many family members and those in his local community. Jim is survived by daughters, Nicolette Shuhart, and Nicole McClelland; grandchildren, Amanda Finley, Marqueritta Shuhart, Kyle Dixon, Madeline Shuhart, and Alexis McClelland; great-grandchildren, Sophia Finley, Aubrey Anne Collins, and Avianna Collins, who he considered his great grandchild too. Jim came from a large family his brothers and sisters include, Alan Sutton (d.2010), Judy Maxwell (d. 2009), Mary Ruth Sutton (d. 2003), June Hoyt (d. 2007), Alice Guire (b. 1929) (94), Clara Smith (d. 1999), William “Bill” Sutton (b. 1933) (90), and Ivan Sutton (b. 1935) (88). A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 11 am. Inurnment will follow in Head of Christiana Cemetery, 1104 West Church Road, Newark, DE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in James’ memory to the Prime Immigration Ministry, please make checks out to Prime, PO Box 5, Lansdowne, PA 19050.

James Milton "Jim" Sutton

February 14, 1937 - November 8, 2023