James Westcot

JAMES LEE WESTCOT

Cedar Rapids

James Lee Westcot, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at The Meth-Wick Community.

Visitation will be between 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids. Private family inurnment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery following the memorial service.

Jim was born July 12, 1926, in Cedar Rapids to George Lee and Queenie (Dawley) Westcot. As a young man, he was active in the drum and bugle corps. After graduating from McKinley High School, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

He then went to Iowa State University in Ames and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering. During his time at Iowa State, he was active in Eta Kappa Nu electrical engineering honors society, Phi Mu Alpha music honors society, Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was drum major of the Iowa State marching band.

Jim continued his Iowa State support after graduation and remained a lifetime member of the Iowa State Alumni Association. As an alumnus, Jim served as chairman of the committee which voted on outstanding alumni to receive awards of excellence.

Jim was united in marriage to Helen Ritchie on July 30, 1949, in Rochelle, Ill. To this union, three daughters were born: Julia Lynn, Susan Carol and Nancy Lee.

Jim began his long career with Collins Radio Co. (later Rockwell Collins) in 1949 and was employed as an electrical engineer. Later he managed the computer information systems in the general aviation division. A career highlight was program manager for the Apollo space program. He retired in 1991 and continued to be a community information source on the Apollo moon landing.

From 1973 to 1975, he was chairman of the Cedar Rapids Symphony board. He was active in the Downtown Cedar Rapids Rotary Club and was a 30-year member of the Cedar Rapids Literary Club.

Jim enjoyed traveling and genealogy research. He was a Civil War history buff and was especially proud of tracing his heritage to great-grandfather George Porter Westcot, who served during the Civil War.

Jim was a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. He was proud to have been on the committee which oversaw the relocation of the church organ pipes from the tower and the subsequent restoration of the pipe organ.

Jim is survived by Helen, his wife of 66 years; daughters, Julie Westcot of Minneapolis and Nancy Hotchkiss (Tim Duncan) of Des Moines; five grandchildren, Ellen Becker (Matt Russell) of Rochelle, Ill., Carol Bartz (Craig) of Strykersville, N.Y., Leigh Crittendon (Da'Rell) of Louisville, Ky., James Hotchkiss of Des Moines and Colin McCarty of Duluth; great-grandson, Casen Bartz; and son-in-law, Tom Becker of Rochelle.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan Becker; and son-in-law, Brian Hotchkiss.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's name may be made to American Heart Association or Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band, c/o the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010.

Online condolences may be conveyed at www.cedarmemorial.com.