ROSE HILL — James “Skip” Joseph Souza, 65, of Rose Hill, North Carolina. formerly of Providence and Warwick, Rhode Island, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Mr. Souza was born on May 4, 1951, in Providence, to Rita Leonardo Souza and the late Thomas James Souza. He is also preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Lloyd Souza.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Irene Souza; son, Jason “Jay” Souza (Lindsey);two grandsons, Travis and Riley Souza; sister, Alice Boucher; and his “adopted” children, David Lallier and Kathryn Williford.
Mr. Souza served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. For pleasure, he spent countless hours fishing in Narragansett Bay. He and his brother Tom fished nearly every weekend, rain or shine, all year long. When he wasn’t fishing, he was taking his family to the shores to clam, fish and simply enjoy the salt air of the bay or the southern coast of Rhode Island.
He worked in a shipyard, building submarines at Electric Boat. His love for North Carolina inspired him to relocate his family there in the mid 1990’s. They found a house in the country where he tinkered in the yard from morning until dark, creating a beautiful place for his family to enjoy. He was a generous and loving husband, father and Pepa to his immediate and “adopted” families. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at the Andrews Mortuary, Hampstead Chapel, on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. The family will receive visitors at the home of Jay Souza afterward at 101 Derby Lane, Hampstead.