James Lucas

James Ellison Lucas Jr, 87, of Jefferson, passed away on March 24, 2021 at Citizens Care and Rehab in Frederick.

Born on July 18, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY, he was a son of the late James Ellison Lucas and Doris Lucas Lamb both of Savannah, GA. Jim was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in NY and NJ and earned his Eagle Scout Rank in January 1949 before his father moved the family to Georgia.  He loved to tell the Boy Scouts in Maryland that he earned 41 merit badges on the trail to Eagle Scout.  Jim had fond memories of Scout camping in the Adirondacks in both summer and the winter. He picked up a life-long love for woodworking after earning his woodworking merit badge.

When living in Savannah, Jim and two cousins Charlie Smith and Henry Guerry were best friends and went crabbing and boating on Tybee Island which fostered a passion for sailing that Jim passed on to his two sons.  The three cousins stayed in contact through the years as they went their separate ways, Charlie to Texas and Henry to Missouri and Jim to Atlanta then Richmond and Maryland.  Jim was the last of the three to die.

Jim graduated from Savannah High School in 1962, attended Armstrong College and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1956 with a BS in Chemistry.  He was drafted in the Army upon graduation and stationed as a medic in the Panama Canal.  Upon discharge, he served 4 years in the Army Reserves.

Jim began working for International Minerals and moved to Atlanta. In Atlanta he attended Atlanta Law School and received his JD.  He began working as a patent attorney before moving to Richmond, VA.  Jim received the Master of Commerce from the University of Richmond. While in Richmond, Jim coached Little League for his son Jay. In 1979, Jim decided to take a job with NIOS with the Federal Government. Jim, his new wife Brenda and children moved from Richmond to Frederick County, Maryland.  When NIOS was broken up in 1983, Jim took a job with FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health working with device law and eventually, International Device Law.  He retired in 2004.  He substituted in FCPS for 5 years.

When his son Christopher moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in 1999, Jim trained as an Assistant Scoutmaster and then took Woodbadge training. In 2004 he became District Chairman for the Appalachian Trail District and served for 2 years.  He took on numerous leadership roles within the District.  He served as Scoutmaster for Troop 796.  He was the Merit badge Counselor for Citizenship in the World and worked with the Scouts on their Eagle projects.  He was loved by the Scouts and was very dedicated.

Jim is survived by his wife of 42 years, Brenda Sue Sanderson Lucas of Jefferson, son, James E “Jay” Lucas III of Colorado, and son Christopher James Lucas of Jefferson: granddaughter, Kattie Gayle Spitz of New Jersey; grandsons, Halsey and Nash Lucas of Colorado; sister, June D Runaldue and brother, Lance Lucas of Georgia; sister-in law, Frances A. Concklin (John); brothers-in-law, Clarence A Sanderson (Lynn) and Ronald C Sanderson (Wanda) of Virginia.  He is also survived by his nieces, Jessica Kearney (Michael), Jodi Calvert (Cliff), Belinda, Jennifer Walker (Matt), Kelly Concklin and nephews Jason Runaldue, Jene Lucas, and Steve Sanderson (Leah) as well as great- nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter, Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Spitz, stepfather, Robert Lamb, brother Roger Lucas, brother-in-law, Jon Runaldue and first wife Gloria Gayle Lucas as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family will receive friends on May 8, 2021 from 1-3 pm at Stauffer Funeral Homes, 1621 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, Frederick, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Daybreak Adult Day Services, www.daybreakadultdayservices.org and state in memory of Jim Lucas or to Boy Scouts of America National Capital Area Council by following the link https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/082/appeal/630 and state in memory of Jim Lucas, Francis Scott Key District

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.