James Russell Landers' Obituary
James Russell Landers, Ph.D., 84, of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away on March 23, 2023.
Born in Portland, Indiana on January 26, 1939 to Mrs. Jane Esther (McCurdy) and Mr. James Wilbur Landers.
Married in November, 1961, in Taipei, Taiwan to Ms. Grace (Miao - passed in 1990).
Married on August 14, 1991, in Taipei, Taiwan to Ms Wei-Ling (Tsai).
Served in the USAF 6987th RSM, Signals Intelligence, Shu Lin Kou, Taiwan.
August 1959 - July 1962. Because of his love for learning, he attended several Universitiies in the US and abroad; including Yale (via USAF in New Haven, CT), University of Hawaii, Indiana University, (unknown Institution) Ohio, (unknow Institution) Minnesota, and Taiwan University in pusuit of his Ph.D.
He was a Chinese Language and Linguistics Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, East Asian Languages and Linguistics, Chinese department, 1970 - 2004.
He and his wife Wei-Ling deeply loved mentoring at risk children and their respective college students.
He lived by a personal code of honor and conducted himself accordingly, living by "The Golden Rule."
Lived his life such that his word was his bond. He strived to leave the world a little better than it was when he arrived (was born). He loved the Chinese history, languages, literature, cultures and playing Mahjong. He loved hockey & baseball (participated in youth athletics). He was an avid fan of UH Athletics; enjoyed working with his hands (woodworking, jewelry repair, home repair gardening, and yardwork); he loved flowers like anthuriums, orchids, and bougainvillea; he enjoyed music from musicians like Nat King Cole, Anne Murray, Johnny Cash and Ted Williams. He had great sense of humor.
He was baptized in a Baptist church as a child and reaffirmed Jesus as his personal savior in the weeks before his passing. he said he had "...and emptiness that he needed God to pour into." The hospice chaplain re-consecrated him to God during this time and did a final prayer for him at his passing.
He is survived by his wife Wei-Ling, his brother John, his children Marcelle Ria ( Landers), James Anthony & Valerie (Gramley), his grandchildren Cortney & Cody (Marcelle), Kayelyn & Mikey (James), 8 nieces and 1 nephew.
He was a loving and caring; a devoted and beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, teacher and friend.
Graveside Services for James will be 10:00am on April 14, 2023 at Valley of the Temples Ocean View Terrace Cremation Garden. Memorial Contributions may be made to Charities of Choice. Casual Aloha Attire.
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