GASTONIA ù James Ponder ‘Jim’ Falls, Sr., 71, died Thursday, October 18, 2007, at his residence after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was the son of the late William Ira and Nan Ponder Falls. A lifelong resident of Gastonia, he attended Gastonia High School (later Ashley High School); was on the football team where he was known by the nickname Mule Train. From high school he attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC and earned a B.S. degree in Commerce, and Business Administration, and went into the Army directly from the Citadel as 1st. Lt. where he served in the 1st Battle Group of the 29th Infantry in Fort Benning, Georgia. Mr. Falls left the service in 1960 with the rank of Captain. It was while at Fort Benning that he met his wife of 47 years, Judith Teddie Falls. After his military service, he decided to become a stock broker and attended the New York Institute of Finance, and Corporate Finance and worked in that position in various firms for over a decade. Mr. Falls moved back to his hometown of Gastonia in 1971 where he worked with Mr. C.P. Nanney and later purchased Sun-Drop Bottling Company from him. In 1987 Mr. Falls changed the name of his company to Choice USA Beverage, Inc. as it is known today. Mr. Falls was a member of Gastonia Rotary Club, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Award; Soft Drink Association, Board of Director for First Citizens Bank, member of Carbonated Beverage Inst. in Washington, DC. He was an Eagle Scout, doing much work with the Scouts of Gaston County and was on the Board of Advisors of the Boy Scout Program. He was active in many many local charities. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a former Sunday School teacher. FUNERAL: 3:00 PM Monday, October 22, 2007, First Presbyterian Church, 1621 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054 ENTOMBMENT: Evergreen Cemetery VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday, October 21, 2007, McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia, 700 South New Hope Road, Gastonia, NC 28054 SURVIVORS: Wife, Judith Teddie Falls; son and daughter-in-law, James Jay P. Falls, Jr. and wife, Christi of Lake Wylie, SC; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Ray of Cary, NC; sisters, Leota Kate Deaton of Stoneville, Carmen Redding of Greensboro, Nan Bridgeman of Gastonia; grandchildren, Cameron and Chandler Ray PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Brother, William I. Falls OFFICIATING CLERGY: Rev. John L. Frye, Jr. and Pastor John H. Stanley PALLBEARERS: Fred Moss, Carroll Hudson, Sam Robinson, Frank Garrison, Charles Massey, Fred Camp MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to the Falls Family Chapel Grove Optimist Club, PO Box 12625, Gastonia, NC 28052 Condolences may be sent online at www.McLeanFuneral.com ARRANGEMENTS: McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia
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