James Junior Stoddard of Ashton, Idaho, passed away peacefully August 20, 2017, at the age of 90. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on May 8, 1927 to David Stuart Stoddard and Lillie Irene Southworth Stoddard. He grew up in Rexburg where he worked hard with his parents in the logging and trucking business. He attended Madison High School in Rexburg where he played the trumpet in the high school band. Junior, as he was known in the Rexburg area, completed his high school graduation after returning from military service during World War II.

Junior left high school during his senior year at the age of 17 to join the war effort. He joined the Merchant Marines and served several years aboard a tanker in the South Pacific refueling U.S. war vessels. He became well acquainted with the islands in the Philippines, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, as well as defending his ship from attacks by Japanese warplanes. Upon returning to Rexburg, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was shipped to Korea as part of the post-war duty. He was honorably discharged in 1947. Following his discharge, he served 12 years with the National Guard where he was a tank commander.

Junior had just one sibling, Bud D. Stoddard, who was his elder brother by six years. Budserved in the military during World War II fighting the Nazis in Europe. While Junior was still serving in the military in the Pacific, Bud was tragically killed in an automobile accident in Rexburg at the age of 24 soon after returning from the war in Europe.

In 1950, Junior met Renee Leavitt who was working as a waitress at a Rexburg restaurant during her high school years. They were married in Rexburg on October 7, 1950. They have two children, Jeffrey L. Stoddard and J. David Stoddard.

Junior spent most of his career in sales and service with John Deere dealerships in Idaho Falls, Ashton and Rexburg, and eventually as the general manager of the dealership in Ashton. When they moved to Ashton in 1960, Junior was known mostly as Jim after his first name of James. He and Renee purchased the Chadwick's dry goods store in Ashton and operated the business as Stoddard's Department Store for many years. He was a dedicated scouter for the Boy Scouts of America serving as the scoutmaster to many boys in the area. Because of his many years of dedication to scouting, he was presented with scouting's Silver Beaver award.

Jim was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many capacities including bishop. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bud, and his eldest son, Jeff. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 67 years, Renee Stoddard of Ashton, daughter in law Melanie Stoddard of Phoenix, AZ, and his son, David (Cherie) Stoddard of Idaho Falls, as well as 9 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 25, at the Ashton 4th Ward Chapel. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. , and Friday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., both times at the church. Interment will be in the Sugar City Cemetery under the direction of Baxter Funeral Home. Military rites will be performed by the American Legion and Idaho Honor Guard.