•••• James E. Greenwood ….
••••
James E. Greenwood
May 1937 – Aug. 2020 James E. Greenwood from Mutual 5 passed away after a short and courageous battle with cancer on Aug. 13. He was born to Edwin and Dorothy Greenwood on May 12, 1937 in Pontiac, Michigan. Right out of high school, he attend trade school and became a machine repair foreman in 1955 until he retired in 1991. He started the first Energy Conservation Program with his skilled trade employees at the CPC plant in Pontiac and saved General Motors over a million dollars in one year. He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips to Wyoming with his friends from work. They would rent an RC and come home with loads of venison and fish.
He married Erika in Aug. 1984. They lived in Clarkston, Michigan, where they loved and entertained family and friends adn their Lake Oakland home.
In 1996 they moved to Leisure World where Jim’s mother resided. After two months, they bought a boat, put an ad in the LW Weekly, and the Ancient Angler club was formed. He was president for some time. Club member Bernie Z. willingly gave all the opportunity to fish on his boat “the Record Breaker” in Cabo St. Lucas. Jim caught his 105 pound sailfish on a 25-pound test line there.
He also loved Lake Tahoe, where he and Erika spent three month a year in their motor home. Jim and his friend Rich Vaira hiked over four thousand miles there over a period of 18 years. Jim started hiking at the age of 62, when he became a great grandfather. They knew every trail and lake and took hundreds of beautiful pictures. When he returned home, he attend his AA meetings every Sunday in Bolsa Chica. He received his 18 year sobriety coin from two AA friends who came to his home the day he passed away.
Jim is survived by his wife, Erika and his sister Joyce Bachner, who are both Leisure World Residents. He is also survived by his children, Debi and Larry Wheatley in Columbia Tennessee; Julie and Craig Foote in Spring Hill Tennessee, Rick and Blue Greenwood; stepchildren Liet. Col. Dan Erwin at the US Airforce base in England, Richard Erwin in Flint, Michigan and Yvonne Bunton in Fenton Michigan.
Together Jim and Erica have 16 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Jim will be deeply missed, but his kindness and helpfulness will live on forever in the hearts of all who loved him.
—paid obituary
