Jim Price passed away September 9th, 2005 in
Korat, Thailand at age
58 of natural causes. The cremation and a memorial service by the VFW
took place Wednesday, September 14th in Korat, Thailand where
Jim was surrounded by his friends in that part of the world.
A Memorial Service for Jim Price was held on Saturday, September 17th, 2005 at the VFW Hall in Royal Oak, Michigan
Jim had been away from Michigan much of the last 10 years, living variously in Taiwan, Vietnam and finally, Thailand.
Jim served in the Army in Vietnam as a medic. After Vietnam he returned to go to school at Oakland University where he took among other things, Chinese language. He eventually found his way back to the Orient, to Taiwan and Vietnam, and around 1990 started living there. Jim was teaching English and was involved in community work with the VFW based in Korat, Thailand.
Jim had many friends in the piping community over his long musical career as an excellent musician and teacher of the bagpipes. Jim got started as a youngster under Walter Rose in Detroit St. Andrew's Pipe Band. In later years Jim focused on teaching and having a large number of students, he co-founded the Clann na Gael Pipe Band which competed in Grade II.
Needless to say this gentle soul will be missed. Jim had made many good friends. At times he fancied himself as a radical, but was actually very old fashioned. He was always a gentleman. Once you were a friend, you were always a friend.
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"Jim was a loving brother to his sister Heather, an uncle, nephew, and cousin. Predeceased by Earl A. and Helen Price of Madison Heights. Jim was proud of his Scottish heritage and loved playing the bagpipes, and Jim was a long time member of the VFW Post #1669, Royal Oak and Post #10217, Korat, Thailand. "
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A wee story...
After a few week's visit home in 2004, Jim was due to return to Thailand. To celebrate Jim's going away, Jim's close friend, Cliff Somerville, his wife and daughter arranged a going away dinner at a Korean restaurant.
We had a great time with Jim prodding Cliff's wife to sing Japanese folk songs (the Koreans do NOT love the Japanese), but after many more sake, Jim decided the Koreans needed some livening up and decided to play his pipes in the restaurant (practice chanter first, then pipes). Jim gave it his best weaving around the restaurant and but the Sake was getting the best of him.
The Korean reputation for hospitality and politeness was put to the test, and when it became too much for them, our entire party decided to convince Jim to beat a hasty retreat to strains of "Garry Owen", (General Custer's famous march tune).
Although we all had a great time, Cliff, my wife Moira and I all were left with the distinct feeling that goodbye was indeed a final farewell. Unknown to us, Jim had been diagnosed with some serious health problems.
I hear he had not been well for some time and he died in his apartment. I hope his last few months were not too uncomfortable and that he passed peacefully.
God rest his soul.
VIEW PHOTOS OF JIM AND
ROYAL OAK
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE..
(The page may take a few minutes to load)
Heather would like to thank all the members of the VFW Post in Thailand as well as the American Embassy who have been outstanding and a source of comfort to all here. It looks like his friends have taken good care of Jim. The VFW post in Thailand have posted a page of photos of he funeral ceremony.
EULOGY
(VFW Memorial Service in Thailand)
James
W. Price ----- Jim to all of us.
Our fellow Comarde and very good friend!!!!
Jim
always had a smile on his face. Jim to me, personally, was a philosopher
who had a keen interest of the world, but mostly a very good friend.
Jim was a combat medic in Vietnam.
He never talked much about his experiences there, but you could sense he cared about his fellow soldiers. Combat medics were very brave souls. Like Jim, most were very quiet persons who did not need or want special recognition, they just thought they were doing their jobs like every other soldier, but medics risked their lives to assist others. Jim was one of these persons. He would always render assistance or help another soldier or comrade in arms.
Jim loved his family and life in Asia. He talked about his sister Heather and looked forward to his visit home next month in October. Jim will complete this journey home, but sadly he will not be returning to his friends and fellow comrades in Korat.
Jim will be missed by all of us, but our memories of him will linger on for a very long time!!!
Friend & Comrade,
Tom Black
VFW Post Commander
Korat, Thailand
Veterans of Foreign
Wars
of the United States
Karl W. Richter Memorial Post 10217
Korat, Thailand
