James "Jim" Waldo Tiscornia

James Waldo Tiscornia, 79, of Abingdon Virginia, entered his heavenly home on Thursday, August 24^th.  Surrounded by his wife and four children, heaven called him with hymns and Psalms.

Born on February 15, 1944, in Stockton, California to Lester and Bernice Tiscornia, he was raised in St. Joseph, Michigan graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1962.  Jim went on to attend Michigan State University where his love for the green and white began.  After graduating with a degree in Business Administration in 1966, he enlisted in the US Military and following officer’s training school was commissioned Second Lieutenant.  During this time, he married the love of his life, JoEllen, on July 16^th, 1966, and was soon called to a Tour of Duty in California and South Korea. 

The focus of Jim’s career was manufacturing and information technology where he had great success.  As a young man, he began work at the Tiscornia family company, Auto Specialties, and later continued his career at Hon Industries, Alpha Natural Resources, and Northrop Grumman where he retired from in 2010 in Abingdon, VA.  While he loved to work, he also loved to play.  As a young man, Jim pursued competitive sailing at which time he tried out for the US Olympic Sailing Team.  He was also a competitive scratch golfer and loyal fan to the NY Yankees.  Traveling with his wife and grandchildren brought great joy to him.   

He filled his retirement years with acts of service to his Creator and community, some of which include his work for the board of Ecumenical Faith In Action, the board of Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center and as Vice President and Treasurer of The Tiscornia Foundation.  In 2019 through Tiscornia Foundation resources, he was honored by Shorter University through the naming of the J.W. Tiscornia Studio Theatre.  His faith was fueled by his active membership at Abingdon Presbyterian Church and Bible Study Fellowship.  While listed here are the places and organizations he served, the value in Jim’s life was in the relationships he shared, a deep reflection of the relationship he shares with his Heavenly Father with whom he now resides.         

Those left to cherish Jim’s memory are his wife of fifty-seven years, JoEllen; his four children James Winston, David (Lisa), Kari Lamancusa (Joe), and Kristin Thomas (Ted); grandchildren Tempest, Sophie, John, Elinor, Clara, William, Andy (with whom he shared a birthday), and James; sister Laurianne Davis (Barry), brother Edward (Jeanne) and many others who loved him. 

Visitation with the family will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 1, 2023, in Abingdon Presbyterian Church, 8438 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210.  Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023 at the church with Pastor John Dawson officiating.  Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Joe Lamancusa, James Lamancusa, Ted Thomas, William Thomas, John Winston Tiscornia, and Andy Tiscornia serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Kerns, Brad Farmer, Jeremy Honaker, Christopher Tiscornia, the AV Team of Abingdon Presbyterian Church, and the Bible Study Fellowship Men’s Bible Study. Military rites will be conducted by Highlands Veterans Honor Guard and the Virginia Army National Guard.

The service will also be livestreamed with this link: 

https://www.facebook.com/Abingdonpresbyterianchurchpca/?mibextid%202JQ9oc

Jim’s family are so thankful for the friends, Elite Hospice, and church family.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jim be made to one of the following organizations he served:

Abingdon Presbyterian Church

18438 Lee Highway

Abingdon, VA 24210

Ecumenical Faith in Action

P.O. Box 2419

Abingdon, VA 24212

Pathways Pregnancy Center

17 24^th Street

Bristol. TN 37620

The family of James Waldo Tiscornia is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.