James Arthur McFarland ("Jimmie Mac"), 82, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on April 2, 2025. He was born to Joseph and Ruth McFarland in June, 1942, in Queens, NY, and was the first of six (6!) boys. In 1951, when James was 9 years old, his family moved to Claymont, Delaware, but not before he developed an abiding love for the New York Baseball Giants and the greatest ever, Willie Mays (as if that need be said).

James graduated from Claymont High School in 1960, where he was a 4-sport letterman and a Class President. From Claymont, he attended Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, where he studied English. While in college, he wrote a bi-weekly sports column in the campus newspaper, resulting in a Senior Writing Award, and a job offer to be a staff writer for the Camden (NJ) Courier-Post. He declined that position and instead accepted an offer to teach high school English in Ohio. His first teaching stint was short-lived, however, as in 1966 he jumped at the opportunity of a lifetime - to become an umpire in the Class A Western Carolina League, for which he was based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He spent a total of four seasons in the minor leagues. After 2 seasons, he was quoted as having "only chased six or seven players and one manager" in minor league ball. In 1969, he returned to Claymont, where he resumed his teaching career at Claymont High School, and umpiring in Delaware (where he steadily added to his ejection statistics). James taught English for 37 years; his favorite book to teach was The Old Man and the Sea. And he could write. Man, could he write. Though he retired from teaching English in 2004, his love of baseball and the Delaware baseball community kept him on the diamond for years to come. When he wasn't calling balls and strikes, he found time to take on a new hobby of refereeing soccer games, which he did from 1972 to 2000, at a time when few people knew the first thing about soccer. To round out his days, he coached baseball and soccer at the high school level.

In 1998, James was inducted into the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame for his unwavering commitment to baseball at all levels. In 2009, he was recognized by the Interstate Baseball Umpires Association for his 50 years of service and commitment to the game of baseball. At that time, he was dubbed the "Godfather of Delaware Baseball." He continued his involvement in baseball for several years, as an umpire, a teacher of aspiring umpires, and in critical administrative roles.

James married Judy Anne Thurston in 1966 and together they raised three sons, Richard, Michael, and Craig. In addition to teaching, umpiring and coaching throughout the year, he somehow found a way to attend every sports game his children were ever involved with, interspersed with regular trips to Veterans Stadium to watch the Phillies. He threw countless hours of batting practice to his sons at Silverside Elementary, and the neighborhood park. He also made it a priority to drive his family up and down, and up and down, the Eastern seaboard in his 1979 Volkswagen Bus for annual summer trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina (before they were The Outer Banks), along with trips to the Finger Lakes of New York, Eastern Tennessee, Florida, and once to the Great White North of Toronto, Canada. He absolutely loved road trips. He also loved strawberries, Northern cardinals, and meatloaf. And dogs. He loved dogs. And they loved him back.

Later in life, James met his baseball-loving counterpart (aka, his Unicorn), Nancy Dillon, with whom he shared 25 joyful years surrounded by family, including annual trips to the beach (even though he could not stand sand), holiday celebrations, and, of course, baseball games, his attendance to which was chronicled in ever-growing stacks of ticket stubs strategically placed around his home.

Throughout his life, James was a stable, supportive, and comforting presence for countless people. He was our foundation. Our home base. He was remarkably modest and preferred to do good without recognition, and had a knack for sharing his credit with others - a true child of the Greatest Generation. He was a principled person who believed in treating people with kindness and decency, and was a role model from whom we will continue to learn for the rest of our days. His patient, kind nature, and easy smile will be forever missed.

We love you, Pa! Stay strong and "Say Hey!"

James is survived by his five brothers: Bob, Tom, Ed, Rich, and Don; his three sons: Richard, Michael, and Craig; his eight grandchildren: Jagger, Maddy, Kate, Hannah, Eagan, Molly, Watts, and Fosston; and by his partner in love, Nancy.

A visitation for James will be held on Tuesday April 8th, 2025 from 3 P.M. to 7 P.M. at the Mealey Funeral Home, 2509 Limestone Road Wilmington, DE 19808. Funeral services and burial will be held privately for the family. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in James' name to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403