James (“Jim”) B. Hankins, our beloved father, age 85, of Doylestown, PA, formerly of Yardley, PA, passed peacefully on October 6, 2016 with his family by his side. A 47 year resident of Bucks County, PA, he was born and raised in Collingswood, NJ. Jim was a gentle, family man and a great listener with a dry sense of humor. Complaining was not part of his DNA, and he gave the best hugs and handshakes. He was the living manifestation of equanimity and an inspiration to many.

He was the starting guard and linebacker for Collingswood High School’s undefeated football team in 1948, and was named to the All State Football Team. He was inducted into the Collingswood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. A graduate of Rutgers University, Jim spent 2 years in the US Army and then went to work for NJ Bell Telephone Co. He retired from NJ Bell 36 years later, and for the next 10 years was a realtor with his wife, Nancy, in Yardley, PA.

Jim was the charter President of the Collingswood-Haddon Township, NJ Jaycees and President of the Middletown, NJ Jaycees. He became a member of the Morrisville (PA) Presbyterian Church in 1970, serving as a Deacon and singing in the Chancel Choir for 32 years. Jim also volunteered at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen for many years, at polling places on Election Day and was a two term President of the Lower Bucks County, PA Swim League. He was an avid reader, a good poker player and a talented bridge player.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Gerald Budd and Blanche (Newman) Hankins, his wife, Nancy (Hessert) with whom he is now gracefully dancing, his older brother, Newman Hankins (Vera), his brother-in-law, Richard Hessert, and his loyal best friend and companion, Wiggles, his shih tzu.

Jim is survived by his older brother, Gerald Hankins (Betty) of Moorestown, NJ, and his sister-in-law, Jerry Hessert of Barefoot Bay, FL. He is also survived by, and will be greatly missed by, his children, Lynne Hankins-Fielder (Richard) of Cudjoe Key, FL, James B., Jr. (Faye) of Mt. Lebanon, PA, and Pamela Hankins Zeller (William) of Lebanon, PA, along with his grandchildren, Myriah Hankins of Wellington, New Zealand, James B. III of Columbus, OH and Griffin Hankins of Mt. Lebanon, PA, and his nieces, nephews and friends.

Arrangements by Varcoe-Thomas Funeral Home/Central Bucks Crematory, Inc., 344 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901.

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