James H. Vacca (1941-2014) James Harold Vacca passed away on Monday, December 29, 2014 at Delmar Gardens in St. Louis after a short illness. He was born on April 25, 1941 in Lamar, MO, the son of Carl T. and Velma E. Vacca of rural Sheldon. He started school at Bellamy, Vernon County, later attending Doris Valley, Barton County and finishing grade school in Pleasant Valley in Jasper County. James graduated from Carthage High School in 1959 before joining the US Navy on August 30, 1959. Leaving the Navy on August 30, 1963 in Mira Mar, CA, he went to work for Boeing Aircraft in St. Louis, whom he was with until his retirement 47 years later. He loved square dancing with his dear friend Pat Willet. He enjoyed spending time fishing and hunting with friends, woodworking and making fishing lures. These activities kept him quite busy after his retirement. James is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Dale and Truman. He is survived by his dear friend Patricia Willett; seven sisters, Phyllis Bullard, Colorado Springs, CO, Helen Lewis, Springfield, MO, Donna Chandler, La Russell, MO, Evelyn Wright, Jasper, MO, Carolyn Hamilton, Carthage, MO, Patricia Michaels, Springfield, MO and Linda Minardi, Carthage, MO; and 19 dearly loved nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thanks to his friends that gave such special care of him each day. Memorial services will be Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Colliers Funeral Home in St. Louis, MO. Visitation will be Sunday, January 4, 2015 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, MO. Burial will be Monday, January 5, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Louis Peregrine Society, 2343 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139 or American Cancer Society, 4207 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108. Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com.