James Francis Wenthe

James Francis "Jim" Wenthe died on May 22, at the age of 79. Jim was born on March 3, 1946 to Raymund and Elizabeth Wenthe in Reading, Pennsylvania. Jim grew up in Radburn, NJ, graduating from Bergen Catholic High School, where he was a star of the track team, excelling in hurdles, long jump, and sprints. He attended the University of South Carolina on a track scholarship, was one of the seven male students who participated in the first Study Abroad program at the University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the university's College of Journalism and Mass Communication, majoring in Advertising.

Following graduation, Jim married Leila Belle "Lee" Skidmore in May of 1969, moved to Edisto Island, and began teaching at Baptist Hill High School. He and Lee returned to Columbia, SC, and he earned his MBA from USC. Moving to Athens, Ga, Jim worked for the UGA Small Business Development Center while earning his Ph.D. in Marketing. Jim served as president of three American Advertising Federation (AAF) professional clubs: in Athens, GA, in Macon, GA, and the student club at the University of South Carolina. At USC, he was the leader of its team which helped convince clubs across the southeast to participate in the annual student campaign competition. 2010 brought Jim's "career" as a movie actor - the professor in "Dear John", a speaking role that he dined out on for years, thanks to his residual.

Jim also taught at Brenau College, Emory University, and The Citadel before becoming the Chair of the Marketing Department at Georgia College and State University. Jim's accomplishments included a member of Leadership Baldwin; the Otis Dodge Memorial Award for outstanding contributions in the AAF's 7th District; the 7th District AAF's Hileman Award for Outstanding Teaching; the Marketing Educator of the Year in 2001 by GAME (Georgia Association of Marketing Educators), in 1975, while serving as assistant dean of Continuing Education for Trident Technical College, he earned a certificate as an Emergency Medical Technician. And in 2005-2006, Jim served as the Governor of AAF's Seventh District (consisting of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee).

After retiring to Edisto, he became a volunteer for Botany Bay Plantation and the Edisto Island Open Land Trust, served on the boards of Edisto Pride (anti-litter organization) and the Edisto Museum, and became known in scorching hot summers for mowing the grounds of Saints Frederick and Stephen Catholic Church, where he also served on the Finance and the Building Committees.

Jim is survived by Lee, two sons, Michael Earl (Rebecca) and Mark Raymund (Elizabeth); seven grandchildren, Shira, Sam and Talia; and Julia, Thomas, Susannah and Jane; eight siblings, Barbara (and Gene) McCarthy, Neil, Nancy (and Donald) Fisher, George, Martha (and Bob) Oare, Mary (and Gib) Mason, Phil (and Linda), and Bill.

Anyone who saw him with his family recognized this was his greatest joy, especially his grandchildren. They ran to greet Papa Jim, encircled him for quiet periods of stories, played catch, cornhole, croquet and H-O-R-S-E, watched children's movies, and loved wading after him at low tide in Russell Creek. He will be much missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 30, 2025 in the St. Frederick & St. Stephen Catholic Church, 544 SC-174 at 2:00 pm.

Memorial donations may be made to Edisto Island Open Land Trust or Edisto Island Museum. 

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

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