James Henry Skipper Jr.

Obituary It is with great sadness that the family of Mr. James H. Skipper announces his passing after a brief illness, on May 14, 2023, at the age of 80. James, sometimes called “Skip”, passed away peacefully with his family by his side. He was survived by his devoted wife (of 34 years) Laura Skipper, daughters Nicole (son in law Richard), Lisa, Myra, his son Maurice, his brothers Maurice and Greg, his grandsons Tavio, Tivon, and Nicholas and his great grandson Jaylen. Skip was born on September 10, 1942, in Martinsville VA. He was one of five children born from, Clementine Caudle and James Henry Skipper Sr. He graduated from William Penn Highschool in Philadelphia PA and joined the Army shortly after. He spent three years in the Army and traveled throughout Europe. In 1967, James joined the Philadelphia Police Department and devoted the next 20 years of his life serving the city of Philadelphia. During his service, he worked throughout the 35th district, the Philadelphia transit system, and was hand chosen to work in City Hall. While at City Hall, he worked directly with Mayors, Wilson Goode, Frank Rizzo, and William Green. During one of Skip’s shifts, he received a distress call and met the love of his life Laura, becoming her knight in shining armor. They got married in 1989 and have been inseparable ever since. Skip was a quiet man but very rich in character. He was a natural born craftsmen that could build or fix anything. Skip was a principled man and possessed strong moral character. He was very reliable and you could count on him for anything. He always came through. His word meant his word and he had “flawless” punctuality throughout his entire life. If he said we were leaving at 2:00, and you showed up at 2:01, you would have been left. One of Skip’s favorite hobbies was traveling. He took numerous trips to Mexico, Africa, Bermuda, Paris, and Spain with his wife. He loved listening to oldies such as Motown, The Temptations, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday. Some of his favorite tv shows included, old westerns, Perry Mason, and Jeopardy (which he knew every answer). Skip was a father figure to many and loved cooking meals for his loved ones. He was a strong tower that you could depend on who faithfully put his family first. His loyalty shines through his dedication to his family and the meaningful friendships he’s formed that have lasted for over half a century. Skip has touched and impacted the lives of many; especially those in his family. He will always be in our hearts, and he will forever be missed.

James Henry Skipper Jr.

September 10, 1942 - May 14, 2023