James E. Waldrop, 84, Columbia City, passed away at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at his residence.

Born in Decatur, he was the son of Wayne D. and Ruth F. (Carrier) Waldrop.

He attended Fort Wayne Schools and graduated from Elmhurst High School with the Class of 1950. James worked for the Fort Wayne Fire Department for 23 years until his retirement in 1983. On April 29, 1983, James married Barbara L. Anderson in Columbia City.  He also lived in Michigan and Florida before settling in Columbia City in 2007.

James had been a member of South Wayne Baptist Church and Fire Department Union Local 124, Fort Wayne.  Some hobbies James had were farming his land in Churubusco, ice fishing and fishing Indiana Lakes, which included Lake Erie.

Survivors include his loving wife Barbara Waldrop, Columbia City; daughters: Vickie (Kevin) Hughes, Addison, N.Y., and Kathy (Gary) Para, Sedona, Ariz.; sons: Michael (Sue) Waldrop and Mark Waldrop, both of Hammonsport, N.Y.; stepson, Kevin Ely, Churubusco; five grandchildren; a sister, Phyllis (Jac) Wilkinson and brother, Marvin Waldrop, both of Mineral Bluff, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Wayne and Ruth Waldrop, a sister, Julia Ray, a son, James A. Waldrop, and a stepson, Ryan Ely.

A memorial service for James will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, April 30, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Memorial contributions in memory of James may be made to the Fort Wayne Fire Department.

Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City.