James Darrell Bilderback passed peacefully from this world the afternoon of March 20, 2024. He was born in Eureka, the son of Dora Mozettti Bilderback and William James Bilderback. He lived 93 (almost 94) years filled with love, purpose, travel, and service to his community as a teacher.

He was known as Jim, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Sam, Uncle Donny and Mr. Bilderback. He was a favorite uncle who, in his younger years, took his nephews on trips to discover different places throughout the country. He loved to travel internationally. He met his wife Marilyn when a local couple invited them both to view travel slides, hoping they would hit it off. Apparently he squirted her in the face with whipped cream while serving her dessert that evening, a memory which was often repeated. They were married in 1968, and rumor has it they traveled to over 100 countries (on every continent.) His favorite was Bhutan, whose people he described as incredibly peaceful and content, but he had good things to say about each place and people everywhere, including Kenya, where he met a hippopotamus face to face.

He spent most of his life in Eureka, with the exception of a year in San Francisco working in a Christian book store and his time in the air force. He was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, and then in Okinawa during the Korean War. He was impressed by the resourcefulness of people he met there, and he always maintained a perspective of gratitude for his blessings. He served the end of his enlistment at the Pentagon, and was grateful for the educational and home ownership benefits provided by his country in exchange for his service.

An alumnus of Humboldt State University, he was a true bibliophile with a library of books on world cultures, natural wonders and the pursuit of truth. He genuinely loved talking about the weather and held a soft spot in his heart for all creatures great and small, especially dogs. He would get seemingly perturbed at the family dog for messing up the house and garden, but end up spoiling him with a towel on the couch and football throws. He got a tremendous kick out of training him to sit for his dinner and treats, and always made sure that the home was well stocked for his visits. He took pride and joy in making sure that everyone and everything was attended to.

He taught social studies at three junior high schools in Eureka: Jacobs, Zane and Winship. He was known for sharing his travel slides with his students, and being a strict but good teacher that really wanted his students to learn and become caring and engaged citizens of the world. He was a devoted husband to the love of his life, and a loving father and grandfather, celebrated for his pillow fighting and waffle making skills. He kept his yard looking spectacular and was dedicated to using gardening methods that caused minimal harm to all its inhabitants. He maintained beautiful rose bushes and a wide variety of ornamentals, working outdoors regularly until a year before his passing.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Helen Lampella, and brothers Vernon and Eugene (Mick) Bilderback. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughter Marcia, grandson Kaiteo, niece Jo, nephews Jim, Gene, David, Michael, Rick, and Gary, as well as many of their children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed, but will live on in the lives of those he touched and in the wonders of the world which he held in such reverence.

An intimate celebration of his life was held with family following his passing. Donations are welcome and can be made in his name to the Humboldt Library Foundation or the American Cancer Society.