Katie B. James

Katie B. James, a 1953 member of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, as depicted in the 1992 movie "A League of Their Own", and Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee passed away peacefully  on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at her home on the Wildcat Mountain in Tamaqua Pennsylvania at the age of 85. Widow of Paul C. James, Sr. who passed away on November 2, 2013 she is survived by; sons,  Paul C. James, Jr. with whom she resided and Keith R. James, Sr. and his wife, LeeAnn of Tamaqua; grand children, Keith R. James, Jr., William Paul James, and Eric Charles James; great grand children, Brady and Bay James; sisters; Oletta Aikens, and Alma Ray Gilreath; brother, Art Herring. Born Tuesday, July 11,1933 in Friendship, Oklahoma the daughter of the late William D., and Beryl (Martin) Herring.  She was also predeceased by; sisters, Lorena Lockwood, Juanita Dishman, Onetta Faye Wilks, Wilma Cates, Jean Laughery; brothers, Bill and Rodney Herring. A graduate of Friendship High School, Katie began playing professional baseball immediately after completing her senior year in high school.  She played outfield for the Grand Rapids Chicks in 1953,  batting right.  She was also an accomplished basketball player. She married her husband of fifty-nine years in 1954 and accompanied Paul during his 21 years of service to our country as a Master Sgt. in the United States Air Force. This past summer Kate attended the 75th anniversary of the A-AGPB league in Kansas City, MO.  Weekly she answered fan mail and sent autographed pictures of her baseball card. Proud of her Indian Heritage Kate, enjoyed gardening and her annual summer pilgrimage to New Hampshire to visit family. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550 A Remembrance Service will be held at 8 o'clock PM on Thursday evening November 8, 2018.   Friends may call Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Interment Ft, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville, Pennsylvania. Memorials in her name to: Disabled American Veterans / DAV3725 Alexandria PikeCold Spring, Kentucky 41076-1712 Online condolences may be made to the family at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com