James “Jim” Macarthur Irwin, formally of Montclair, NJ, went home to the Lord on October 29, 2014, while a resident of The Brethren Home in Cross Keys, PA.

Born April 9, 1928, he was the son of the late James Ralph & Irene Hughes Irwin of Upper Montclair, NJ. Mr. Irwin was married in 1951 to the late Muriel DeRose Irwin, who preceded him in death on September 8, 1993. He was also pre-deceased by his older sister, Jane Rue Merz in May of this year.

Mr. Irwin graduated from Montclair High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1950-1956. During the Korean War he was stationed on Okinawa and served as a map-maker in the Intelligence Branch of the Army. He was an instructor in Intelligence Studies at Camp Edwards in Massachusetts. In 1958, Jim graduated from St. John’s University, College of Pharmacy; as a Registered Pharmacist, he served many communities in Essex County, NJ, working in independent pharmacies until his retirement in 2008. Jim was very active in the parish of Church of the Immaculate Conception. He served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister, and sang in the church choir for over 30 years.

Mr. Irwin leaves behind the following loving family members: daughters Jane Irwin Hollabaugh & her husband Harold of Biglerville, PA, and Susan Irwin Munroe & her husband Bruce of Tucson, AZ; granddaughter Aurora Bayles & her husband Marc, grandson Samuel Warters & his wife Kate of San Antonio, TX, and grandsons James & David Hollabaugh of Biglerville & New Freedom, PA, respectively; great-grandchildren Cecelia & Matthew Bayles; cousins Dr. C. Peter Crowe, Jr. of Tucson, AZ, Dr. John Crowe of Canton, MA and June Crowe Croonquist of Hackensack, NJ; nephew Paul C. DeRose, nephew F. Douglas Rue, and niece Carol Rue Mesler.

A viewing and Christian wake will be held at Monahan Funeral Home, 125 Carlisle St., Gettysburg on Friday, November 7th from 6-8pm. There will also be a viewing on Sunday, November 9th from 6-8pm at Caggiano Funeral Home, 62 Grove Street, Montclair, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ on Monday, November 10th at 10:00am. Interment will be at Restland Memorial Park, 77 DeForest Avenue, East Hanover, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Church of the Immaculate Conception; St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Queens, NY; or Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community, 2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford, PA 17350.

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