Formerly of Keyser, WV - James Allen Endler, Sr., 87, died Sunday at 2:15 p.m.,in the hospice unit of the Veterans Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.,following a several-year bout of complications from Alzheimer's Disease. As it was Father's Day, he was surrounded by family.

James was born on July 17, 1937, in Akron, OH, though he grew up on the family farm in Grant County, W.Va. He is predeceased by his parents, Henry Cleveland Endler and Margaret (Hartle) Endler and four sisters.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Kathryn E. "Mona" Ridder; a brother, Henry Charles Endler and wife Becky of Las Vegas, Nev.; three children, James A. Endler, Jr., and wife Alicia of Elk Garden, Linda Endler Sly and husband Jamie, Durham, N.C., and Christie Lyons, Elk Garden; two step children, Shane Ridder of Keyser, and Laura Katherine Ridder and husband John Flynn of Greencastle, Pa.

In addition, he is survived by five grandchildren, Shawn, Patrick, Jordan, Kelsey, and McKensie; two step grandchildren, Portia and Elizabeth; and four great granddaughters, Shay Lynn, Olivia, Arya, and Charlotte.

James served 21 years in the Army, retiring in 1977 with the rank of CW3 (Warrant officer) in Intelligence. During his service, he spent time in Germany, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as several stateside posts, including Fort Bragg in N.C., Fort Bliss and San Antonio, both in TX.

Following his retirement, he returned to W.Va., and in 1980 took the job of Deputy Sheriff in Mineral County. He was widely recognized as the "deputy with the handlebar mustache." He retired as deputy sheriff after 21 years in 2000. During his tenure he served under four sheriffs, as well as with other deputies, acting as training officer for several new hires.

During his years in law enforcement, he was a member of both the local and state Deputy Sheriffs Associations and served as an officer of both. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police where he served as state trustee. He was the first deputy ever to retire from the Mineral County Sheriff's Department.

He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff, then established his own investigations business. He was called back to work for the county as bailiff in the courts for a time, but, as a private investigator he worked several cases in the region, retiring and closing the business in 2014. He is remembered as treating all people with respect, many of whom expressed their gratitude as he met them in later years.

He was a member of the Keyser Rotary Club for 15 years, 10 of which he chaired the Dictionary Project, which provided dictionaries to every fourth grader in Mineral County. His hobbies included hunting, woodworking, tending his rose bushes, traveling, and even dabbling in jewelry-making.

He is also survived by Spicey, the cat, who would sit with him for hours, though he always insisted he was his wife's cat.

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2020 and over the next few years lost a lot of his memories. He and his wife relocated to Martinsburg to be closer to Veteran's services.

A brief military Salutatory Honors Service with a flag-draped stretcher and short procession was held at the hospice immediately after his death.

Upchurch Funeral Home, Inc. in Fort Ashby is overseeing arrangements for cremation. There will be no viewing or services. Later, per the couple's request, his wife's and his ashes are to be scattered at the farm where he grew up. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" is rooted in the Bible, Genesis 3:19, which states, "for dust you are and to dust you shall return," as he will.