James Allen Bledsoe

RALEIGH Jim Bledsoe (71), of Raleigh, passed away at his home Friday morning June 10, 2016. Jim grew up in Fayetteville, NC where he attended Seventy-First High School and finished at Fayetteville Senior High School in 1962. He was the son of the late James A. Bledsoe and the late Mary J. Bledsoe. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Barbara B. Jones; and stepfather Paul C. Bordinger. He is survived by wife of 46 years, Jo Dove Bledsoe; daughter Lindsey B. Taylor (Jeff) of Raleigh; son J. Alan Bledsoe (Kelly) of Denton; son Joseph A. McKinney (Beth) of Charlotte; and grandchildren Casey Bledsoe, Barrett Bledsoe, Brooke McKinney and Blake McKinney. He is also survived by sister Teri B. Norgaard  (Carl) of Creedmoor. Jim had a very colorful career starting at NCSU, UNC, and Methodist College. He later served on the Board of Trustees at Methodist and was named Trustee Emeritus in 2015. He began his work career at IBM later working at Black & Decker, and then started his own marketing and sales company, OEM Component Sales, from which he retired in 1998. He was a long-standing member of North Ridge Country Club where he was an avid golfer. Jim also enjoyed the beach and boating. His humor and ability to make people laugh will remain with us forever. At his request there will be no service but a celebration with family and friends is planned in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James A. Bledsoe Endowed Scholarship at Methodist College 5400 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville NC 28311-9986 attention Sandy Ammons.