Son of James Bennett and Ophelia Dodd Sterling, he was a 1934 graduate of Dayton High School, where he was a member of the Dayton Bronco Regional Football Championship Team. Jim was a veteran of World War II, serving as an aerial gunner in the Army Air Corps. With their son Jimmy, owned and operated Sterling Funeral Homes in Dayton and Anahuac for over 30 years. They also had a monument company, and started the Palms Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton, producing Community Memorial Day and Easter Sunrise Services for over 20 years. Jim was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dayton, serving as a member of the Official Board and the building committee for the new Sanctuary. He donated the pipe organ for the new sanctuary, in memory of his Mother, who had been the first church organist. He served two terms on the Dayton City Council, securing the rights of way for the new four-lane highway through town. He served two terms as Mayor of Dayton, and was a member of the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department, serving in every station, including Fire Chief, and helped with the Texas City Disaster in 1947. Survivors include: Wife, Betty, of Dayton; son Jimmy Sterling and wife Sandra of Liberty; son Ben Sterling and wife Linda of Austin; grandchildren Jennifer Sterling of Albuquerque, NM; Philip Sterling and wife Kalli of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Michael Kittrell and wife Lisa of Dallas; Julie Pitre and husband Ryan of Liberty; and great-grandchildren Dalton, Taylor and Kendall; and a number of cousins.
Son of James Bennett and Ophelia Dodd Sterling, he was a 1934 graduate of Dayton High School, where he was a member of the Dayton Bronco Regional Football Championship Team. Jim was a veteran of World War II, serving as an aerial gunner in the Army Air Corps. With their son Jimmy, owned and operated Sterling Funeral Homes in Dayton and Anahuac for over 30 years. They also had a monument company, and started the Palms Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton, producing Community Memorial Day and Easter Sunrise Services for over 20 years. Jim was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dayton, serving as a member of the Official Board and the building committee for the new Sanctuary. He donated the pipe organ for the new sanctuary, in memory of his Mother, who had been the first church organist. He served two terms on the Dayton City Council, securing the rights of way for the new four-lane highway through town. He served two terms as Mayor of Dayton, and was a member of the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department, serving in every station, including Fire Chief, and helped with the Texas City Disaster in 1947. Survivors include: Wife, Betty, of Dayton; son Jimmy Sterling and wife Sandra of Liberty; son Ben Sterling and wife Linda of Austin; grandchildren Jennifer Sterling of Albuquerque, NM; Philip Sterling and wife Kalli of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Michael Kittrell and wife Lisa of Dallas; Julie Pitre and husband Ryan of Liberty; and great-grandchildren Dalton, Taylor and Kendall; and a number of cousins.
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