Photography
Official Obituary of

Jim D. Upton

November 16, 1933 ~ June 26, 2013 (age 79) 79 Years Old

Jim Upton Obituary

James Donald "Jim" Upton 79, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at Park Place Elder Living Center in Mt. Pleasant.

Jim was born on November 16, 1933, in Mt. Pleasant the son of Donald Connor and Esther June Hayward Upton. He was united in marriage to Donna Marie Parker on August 12, 1956, in Hillsboro, Iowa.

Jim served his country as a Corporal in the Army during the Korean War, where he was stationed at Fort Richardson in Alaska serving as a radio operator and a personal driver for Major Dickinson. After the service Jim worked at several area garages as an auto mechanic. He was employed at Champion Spark Plug Company in Burlington for 30 years, he retired in 1992.

Jim was known for his signature laugh. He loved country music, he started a small band called the Scrubs, and they played at various local functions. He had a love for playing cards, board games, crossword puzzles and wood working. He loved watching the Wheel of Fortune. He enjoyed feeding his backyard wildlife. He enjoyed camping and going on family vacations. He loved spending time with friends and family. As Jim was quoted saying in his high school yearbook, "I am wealthy in my friends."

Jim is survived by his wife Donna and his children; Jacqueline A. McDowell of Austin, Texas, Don (Diana) Upton and Lisa Upton both of Mt. Pleasant. Four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; one brother Harold (Carolyn) Upton of Mountain Grove, Missouri and three sisters: Sara Weschler, Anna Turner and Linda Stith all of Mt. Pleasant, and one sister-in-law Dorothy Upton of Phoenix, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers John and Glenn, one sister in infancy Elizabeth Ann and his step father George Helm.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday July 2, 2013 at the Murphy Funeral Home where friends may call after 2 p.m. The family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant with Rev. Regan Stoops officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard.

Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church, HCI of Mt. Pleasant and to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in his memory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jim D. Upton, please visit our floral store.


Services

You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Jim D. Upton
SHARE OBITUARY

© 2026 Murphy Funeral Home and Monuments. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility