Stroup

James "Jim" C. Stroup of Bruin was surrounded by the love of family and friends when he peacefully passed away at his home at 8:10 a.m. Monday after an extended and courageous battle with cancer. He was 72 years old.

Jim was born May 2, 1936, in Concord Township and was the son of the late Dean and Ruth (Armstrong) Stroup.

He attended the former Concord High School and went on to pursue his dreams of being an owner/operator for his own trucking company and owning his own stock car racing team.

His hobbies included racing stock cars, watching NASCAR, riding all-terrain vehicles, being an avid outdoorsman, auto and diesel mechanics and woodworking.

Jim retired from Penreco in Karns City as the master mechanic/driver of its local trucking division. He was employed there 29 years. He was a member of the Western Pennsylvania Teamsters Local 273 (926).

Jim is survived by his wife, Wilda Fannin-Stroup of Bruin, whom he married Feb. 14, 1999; a son and his wife, Jamie Kent (Melinda) Stroup of Hooker; a daughter, Tammy Sue Sutton of North Washington; and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Pearl Ellen (Ronnie) Fannin-Walker of Valencia. Jim also is survived by his pride and joy several grandchildren, Holly Marie Stroup-Crisman of Hooker, Russell Don Stroup of Hooker, Abby Ione Sutton of Northfield, Vt., and Tyler James Sutton of North Washington; as well as two great-grandchildren, Brandan Russell Stroup and Frankie Maelene Stroup, both of Hooker.

Jim also is survived by his eight siblings: Mr. and Mrs. Dean (Wanda) Stroup Jr., Chicora; Mr. and Mrs. Ken (Marie) Stroup, Chicora; Mrs. Inez (Robert) Whitmire, Nitro, W.Va., Mrs. Pat (Tom) Dobson, Petrolia, Mrs. Shirley (Richard) Wilson, Denton, Mont., Mr. Terry (Beverly) Stroup and Mr. Dave (Patty) Stroup, Chicora; and Mr. Gary (Becky) Stroup, Hilliards; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by a daughter, Stacey Stroup-Potts; a granddaughter, Casey Sue Potts; and a son-in-law Dale "Diesel" Sutton Jr.

<B>STROUP</B> Friends and family of the late James "Jim" C. Stroup, who died Monday, April 27, 2009, are invited to pay their respects to the deceased and to the family from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home </B>on Washington Street in Eau Claire. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with graveside services at the Slippery Rock Cemetery, Route 108 North, Slippery Rock, immediately following.In lieu of flowers, the family is graciously requesting that donations be made to the James C. Stroup Memorial Scholarship Foundation, c/o Moniteau Area School District, P.O. Box 226, West Sunbury, PA 16061.Information also is available at www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.