Biographical Information

James D. Hunsucker (Sr.) was born on September 4, 1942, in Lansing to Robert and Ruby (Lofton) Hunsucker. He died unexpectedly on February 26, 2009, at the age of 66. A lifelong resident of Lansing, Jim graduated from Lansing Eastern H.S. in 1961 and Michigan State University in 1969 with a B.A. in History and Latin. He began working for the State of Michigan at the Michigan Consumers' Council in February 1970. While there, he was instrumental in the passage of the landmark Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act in 1974, which led to the creation of the Bureau of Automotive Regulation (BAR) in the Department of State in 1975. An inveterate consumer advocate, Jim transferred to BAR in February 1975 as a division director. He retired from State service in June 1997.

A long-time member and faithful servant of South (Baptist) Church, Jim was active as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, AWANA leader, and PeeWee basketball coach. In retirement he also participated in Vacation Bible School and Christmas and Easter cantatas. For many years, he was involved with the local and state Child Evangelism Fellowship. Always the teacher, for the last several years he loved working with home-schooled high school students through Teenworks, teaching advanced literature and composition classes and several levels of Latin classes. Above all, Jim was a lifelong mentor, reader, writer, thinker, public speaker, and joke teller. Jim married the love of his life, Patricia Standish, on October 3, 1970, and she survives him. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and is survived by sons, Ronald L. and James D., Jr.; mother, Ruby; sister, Bobbie (Ray) Freeman; brother, R. Laval (Lucretia); sisters-in-law, Sharon Stone, Sheila Standish, Cookie (Sam) Currier, and Bonita (Jim) Lane; brother-in-law, Gary (Judy) Standish; grandchildren, Justin James and Ruby Lee Hunsucker; very close cousin, Ella Dikeman and husband, Mike; many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and very special friends, Marvin Goldstein, Lorraine Finison and others from BAR, Ed Kaiser, David Kallman, and Dr. Don Denyes and Rev. Doug Phillips of South Church.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 5, at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr., Lansing. Family visitation will be one hour prior to the service. For those desiring, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or the charity of one's choice. The family is being served by Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing.

Published in the Lansing State Journal on 3/4/2009