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James R. "Jim" Booker
Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | April 19, 2025
Jim grew up on Polish Hill in West Mifflin, learning teamwork, confidence, resilience, and sturdy friendship at home and through sports. For years, he enjoyed the camaraderie of Christ Lutheran Church softball team. In high school, he played football, tennis, and hockey, continuing with football and baseball at Allegheny College (1971 – 1975) where he also formed lifelong friendships at the FIJI fraternity and enlisted in ROTC, the beginning of a long commitment to the Air Force and Air Force Reserves.
“Baby Jim’s” job in Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) in the Reserves was to feed airmen and soldiers. His larger-than-life personality was tailor-made for throwing parties and hosting events. He ventured many times out of Eglin AFB in Florida, enroute to troops on the ground and responsible for an air-drop kitchen, a kitchen crew and supplies. At Pittsburgh Airport he managed the Air Force Consolidated Open Mess for 25 years.
Jim met his wife, Vicki (Fox), while stationed in Rome, NY, and together they raised two children while owning and operating restaurants over the course of three decades in West Homestead, Meadville, and White Oak. He hosted many family celebrations, large and small, where a good belly-laugh was as important as the main course. And he would be sure to sing “Mack the Knife” better than Bobby Darin ever could! After leaving the restaurant business he held various jobs at the Duquesne Beneficial Union, and conducted culinary training for the Catholic non-profit agency Auberle of McKeesport.
Jim was the loving father of Marcus Booker (Skye) of Bethesda MD, and Rachael Isett (John) of West Mifflin, PA, both of whom followed in his Air Force footsteps. He had many grandchildren: Sam, Jaiden, Chris, James and Quinn Booker (Amy); and Aidan, Devin, Riley, and Camryn Burow (Kelly). He was especially close to Riley and Camryn or “Keekee,” sharing with his daughter their early care and upbringing.
Jim always looked eagerly forward to each new day. He often said he couldn’t wait for tomorrow, because, as he insisted, he gets “better looking every day!” Jim’s brothers and sisters cherish the memory of his jokes, his impersonations of Ralph Kramden, and his good cooking: Dan Booker (Deborah) of Pittsburgh, Harris Booker (Emily) of Philadelphia, Susan Welsh (Andrew) of Indiana PA, William Booker (Candice) of Sea Girt NJ, Margaret Rayher (Erich) of Coopersburg, sister-in-law Karen Booker, Dale Booker (Leigh) of Bradfordwoods, and Thomas Booker (Melanie) of Birmingham AL.
Jim’s many nieces and nephews remember his sunny character and, just as crucial, his ability to dissipate a fight and restore good feeling and fair play. Jim valued and tended a legion of friendships going back to the neighborhoods and the pick-up games of his youth and extending to his college, military, restaurant and non-profit experiences. We will all remember his smile.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ralph, and his sister-in-law Deborah Booker.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Maloy-Schleifer Funeral Home, 915 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne, PA. www.maloy-schleiferfuneralhome.com 412-466-3300, William B. Schleifer, Supervisor, William Brian Schleifer, Funeral Director. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Church, 817 West Grant Ave., Duquesne, PA, with Rev. Daniel D’Antonio officiating. Burial, with full honor guard, will follow at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, in Bridgeville, PA, at 1:30 p.m
Originally published April 19, 2025.
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