James M. Wooldridge

James M. Wooldridge, born Jan.18, 1922

James M. Wooldridge, a retired journalist and farmer living in Hendersonville, N.C., died May 19, 2016.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

The deceased grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the son of Samuel Upshur and Mary Moore Wooldridge. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1943 and served three years as a gunnery officer on the USS Houston during World War II.

He was the county government reporter for the Palm Beach, Fla. Post-Times and later, general manager of the Hazard Herald, a daily newspaper in eastern Kentucky. He became a technical writer for a Washington, D.C. engineering firm in 1955.

After his marriage to Nancy Jalbert, of Annapolis, Md., in 1959, the couple returned to Kentucky and bought a farm near Hopkinsville. In 1985, they sold the farm and retired to Hendersonville, N.C., where he worked as the business and farm reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News for 17 years. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Jalbert Wooldridge; a son, Dr.Thomas M. Wooldridge and wife Dana, of Johnson City, Tenn.; and a daughter, Marie J. Wooldridge and husband Chris Curley of Atlanta, Ga.

Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or PO Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.