James Herndon Hendrix of Newton, Massachusetts passed away on May 4, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, his home for the last two years.
James (Jim) was born on November 29, 1930 in Trion, Georgia to Layfayette and Annie Mae (Elrod) Hendrix. He earned a Bachelor’s degree of Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech in 1957 and accepted a job at Honeywell, where he met his wife, Beatrice Koulopoulos, through a joint project with Raytheon. The couple settled in Newton and raised three children.
Jim retired from Honeywell in 1989, but as a man who liked neither his mind nor hands to be idle, he pursued his lifelong interests in tinkering with electronics and cars, reading about world histories and religions, and gardening. He was an early adapter in the internet age and built several computers from scratch; he maintained an extensive vegetable plot at Newton Community Farm; and he closely followed sports and politics, offering incisive comments on each with the salty brevity he was known for.
More than anything, Jim loved his family. He became a veritable expert in diabetes in his care of his beloved wife Beatrice in her final years. He never missed a single game, performance, or recital of his three children, and as a proud grandfather, he was a fixture at every pool, ballfield, and gridiron in Weston.
He is survived by his son James H. Hendrix, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Atlanta, Georgia; his daughter Jean H. Noonan and her husband Peter of Weston, Massachusetts; his daughter Melissa B. Hendrix of Chicago, Illinois; and his grandsons James F. Noonan II, Peter C. Noonan, Jr., Patrick J. Noonan, and John G. Noonan.
He is preceded in death by his wife Beatrice K. Hendrix, his brother Walter Ohma Hendrix, his sister Carolyn Ruth Hagans, and his sister Addie Leona Brown. The family will hold a private viewing at George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home (Wellesley), followed by interment at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New England Baptist Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, or The Carter Center.