James Wakefield, 90, of Columbia, passed away on Friday April 19, 2019, at the Lancaster General Hospital, where he had briefly been a patient. He was the husband of Edna Sarbaugh Wakefield, with whom he would have celebrated 70 years of marriage in July. He is survived by his wife Edna, son Kirk and daughter-in-law Karen, and cousins Steve and Mark Wisler of Columbia, and Mike Wisler of Wrightsville. Also surviving are cousins Michelle Salisbury of Pittsburgh and Lisa Slezak of Erie, sister-in-law Shirley Lehman and nephew Jim Lehman of Columbia, brother-in-law Kenneth Sarbaugh of Lancaster, and 18 nieces and nephews.
Born on June 7, 1928, he was the son of the late Isaac and Elsie Wakefield, and a life-long resident of Columbia. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1947 where he was the co-captain of the Football team of ’46 and a starter on the 1947 Sectional Basketball Champions. After graduation he joined the Naval Reserves and was active in naval basketball for almost 20 years. He was employed at The United Sound & Signal Corp., Columbia for 10 years. He also worked at The Kahn-Lucas Mfg. Co. in Columbia for 33 years, retiring as Sewing Room Supervisor in 1990.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and raising Beagles and Rottweilers. He hunted at his camp in Potter county, neighboring states, and out west. His hobby of 20 years was a gunsmith, making Long Rifle Flintlocks in the traditional Lancaster county style. He was a member of the Swatara Beagle Club, the Artisans OMP Columbia #20, and the Newtown United Methodist church. A private memorial will be held at a time and location of the family’s choosing. Cremation Services of Lancaster (717) 273-6283