Jim was born in Mecklenburg County, NC on June 30th, 1925. He was the first child of Wriston A. Crowell and Mary Lemmond Crowell. Jim graduated from Matthews High School and married Martha Anna Patrick on September 6th, 1948. He and Martha Anna raised six children while living in Matthews, NC.

Jim served in WWII as a paratrooper in Bravo Company, 508th Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army. Following WWII, he attended North Carolina State University and then worked at The Bouligny Company. Jim spent the majority of his career with the United States Postal Service. A life-long athlete, he ran track and cross country at NC State, yet also enjoyed baseball, rock climbing, fencing, archery, hiking and biking. Jim's other interests included music, target shooting, history, backpacking, playing guitar and dancing, however his primary care in life was his love for friends and family. Many lives have been blessed by knowing him.

Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Martha Anna Patrick Crowell and his brother, W.A. Crowell.

Jim is survived by his six children and their spouses, Jim and Elaine Crowell, Beth and Don Rice, Ann Sloan, Laura and Donald Reid, Linda and Steve Hall, David and Susie Crowell; his eleven grandchildren and their spouses, Justin and Katherine Hall, Michael and Katie Crowell, E.J. and Jace Healey, Cheryl Reid, Kelly and Matthew Osborne, Cliff and Elise Reid, Anna Rice, Leslie and Jason DeKoster, Creighton Sloan, Taylor Crowell, Meagan Crowell; and his seven great-grandchildren, Jacs Healey, Anna-Elise Healey, Hunter Hall, Wriston Crowell, Emma Hall, Anna Osborne, Anderson Reid.

Friends were cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 2:00 until 3:00 pm Sunday, August 16th at McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel, followed immediately by a time of meditation and reflection at 3:00 pm in the funeral home chapel.