Jim Ditton went home to God on Nov. 20 after a long fight with heart failure.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1946 in Rock Springs, Wyo., to James Ditton and Jeanette Lightner Ditton.
He attended schools in Rock Springs and was a graduate of Rock Springs High School. After graduation, Jim worked various jobs until he was drafted in 1966 into the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam War. Upon his return home, he met and married Rosemarie Tomich in 1969. In the fall of 1970, they welcomed their only child, James “Jimmy” Bryan Ditton.
Jim worked for the former Tree Electric, where he became a proficient electric motor winder until his retirement in 2005. Jim lived in Rock Springs his entire life, raising his son, Rose’s sisters and a nephew. He dedicated his life to spending time with his son, grandsons and family, including his two brothers, Bill and Don Smith, who he loved to fish and hunt with.
He was a car and truck enthusiast and loved having a new vehicle to bring home and surprise his wife with. In his later years, he enjoyed gambling for fun as well as spoiling his grandsons and their families.
Jim is survived by the lights of his life – beloved grandchildren Jason and Deidre Ditton of Rock Springs, Jordan and Mikayla Ditton, also of Rock Springs, great-grandson Ari James Ditton and bonus granddaughter, Daisy Early of Boulder, Wyo. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Jana (Jesse) Early of Boulder, one sister, Patsy Bulkley of Redmond, Ore., cousins Donna Leiting of Hudson, Wyo., Bobbie Mines of Farson, Wyo., Mike Goich and Danny Goich of Rock Springs, Bobby Ditton and Harry Ditton of Salem, Ore. and Don (Kaylou) Lightner of Rock Springs, nephews Casey (Sheila) Smith of Rock Springs, Don Smith of Rock Springs, Bobby Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah, sisters-in-law Brenda Smith, Susan (Mark) Sweets of Rock Springs and Linda (Ron) McMurray of Casper, Wyo., as well as nephews Josh Tolar, Richard (Rena) Tolar, Andy Tolar, Marcelle Sweets, all of Rock Springs, and Gary “JR” Williams of Grand Junction, Colo., Eddie (Chris) Carter, William (Carter), David (Vicki) Bulkley and Roger (Perri) Bulkley of Oregon, nieces Lori (Taylor) Lund of Elko, Nev., Michele Tolar, Renee Muniz, Kolbi (Michael) McKenzie, Courtney Freeze, all of Rock Springs, Misty (Curtis) Cole, Heidi (Trevor) Walker both of Casper, and Pamela (Clayton) Carpenter of Oregon, as well as many great-nieces, great- nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Rosemarie Ditton, his son Jimmy Ditton, his brothers Bill Smith and Don Smith and his sister Shirley Carter.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held in 2021.
The family respectfully requests cards in Jim’s memory to be sent to The Ditton Family, 1524 Eagle Way, Rock Springs, WY.
