James Garth Fights (Jim) died in Plano, TX on January 26, 2021 after suffering a broken hip followed by infections.  Jim was 92 years old.

Jim was born near Liberty, Kentucky on April 26, 1928.  Jim grew up during the depression in rural Kentucky.  In November of 1945 he joined the Army at the age of 17 by lying about his age.  He served two years in Germany from 1946 to 1948 during the rebuilding of Europe after World War II.  When the US Air Force was formed, Jim moved from the Army to the Air Force.  He spent a few years in Thailand and Southeast Asia before the Viet Nam conflict where he traveled around the country side with a Chinese guide and a pistol trying to improve the lives of the local people.  Jim served 22 years in the Army and Air Force and retired in 1968.  Jim took advantage of the medical training opportunities in the Air Force and in 1968 he led the effort to build a medical testing laboratory in Denton, Texas and managed that laboratory until he retired in 1995.  In retirement, Jim spent his time taking care of Keith and working to improve the Food bank that had been founded and managed by his wife Carol.  Jim lived in Denton for 50 years after he retired from the Air Force.

He married Carol Sicking in 1964 and they had one son Keith.  Carol died in 2001 from complications from type 1 diabetes.  Keith was born with special needs and was dependent on Carol and Jim for his entire life.  Jim was very dedicated to his family and he cared for Keith until Keith's death in 2012.  Jim spent a lot of time with Keith and they were ardent bowlers.

Jim is survived by his brother Rodney, his sisters Dolores and Margaret, and several nieces and nephews, all in Kentucky.  He is also survived by his brothers in law Charles, Kevin, Dan, and Dean, and his sisters in law Sharlene and Annette.  Preceding Jim in death are his parents Allen and Edna and 9 sisters and 1 brother.  Teresa Cantrell cared for Jim for more than 5 years after Jim developed dementia.  During those years, Teresa devoted much of her life to caring for Jim.

A visitation will be held for Jim at the DeBerry funeral home at 5025 West University Drive, Denton, TX on January 31, 2021, from 2PM to 4PM.  The burial will be on February 1, 2021 at the Roselawn Memorial Park cemetery located at 3801 Roselawn Drive, Denton, TX at 2:30PM.  An online memorial is planned in the near future.