James Lloyd Binkley, 77, died on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia at the Azalea Health and Rehabilitation Center after a 34 year battle with renal failure.
James was born on July 21, 1942 in Bloomington, the son of Morris and Alice (Lloyd) Binkley. He attended Elm Heights Elementary School, University High School and earned a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Indiana University in 1964 graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He then spent a year as an exchange student at the University of Bonn before graduating with a JD degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1968. Following graduation from law school, he spent an additional year studying medicine at Indiana University.
James was an avid sportsman whose first love was basketball. He served as Captain of the University High School Team and played on the Indiana University Freshman Basketball Team. He was also an excellent tennis player who attended IU on a Tennis Scholarship and was a member of the IU Tennis Team that won the Big Ten Championship in 1964. In recognition of his athletic and academic achievements, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1964 for being the one student-athlete from Indiana University who had attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work. In addition, James was elected to the Blue Key Honorary that recognizes college students for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. James was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.
After suffering renal failure in 1986, James began conducting his own dialysis and researching the benefits of an increased dialysis regime. He presented his findings in a variety of settings ranging from local to international. In 1992, James became the recipient of a kidney transplant when his son Jonah was killed in a car accident in Hawaii. In his final four years, Jim was forced to return to dialysis in order to supplement the functioning of his kidney transplant.
James is survived by his sister, Anne Findlay (Doug) of Melbourne, Australia, his sister-in-law, Sue Campbell (Morris Binkley) of Batavia, Illinois, his nephews, John Binkley (Heather) of Leesburg, Virginia and Christopher Binkley (Geneva, Illinois), and his great-nephew and great-nieces Ian, Josie, and Maddie Binkley of Leesburg Virginia. His son Jonah Binkley, his brother Morris Binkley, Jr. and his parents Morris and Alice Binkley preceded him in death.
Due to the conditions surrounding the Coronavirus, there will only be a small service when James is interred next to his parents and brother at Rosehill Cemetery in Bloomington, IN. Once international travel is resumed and conditions are favourable, a Memorial Service will be held for James. Anyone wishing more precise information should contact The Funeral Chapel, Bloomington, IN who is handling the burial details at 812-333-4400.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jonah Binkley YMCA Scholarship Fund.