James Cole Alvey

James Cole Alvey passed away at his home in Arlington, Texas, on March 15, 2026, at the age of 88. James was born on March 11, 1938, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Randall “Tony” and Ueweda Alvey. The family later moved to Bancroft, Iowa, where James often shared stories of working on local farms and doing his best to stay out of trouble.

A celebration of life will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Wade Family Funeral Home, Arlington, Texas.

James joined the United States Army and became a member of the 101st Airborne, stationed at Fort Campbell, Georgia. He spoke fondly of his time in the Army and was proud to have served his country.

James met his wife in Algona, Iowa. They were married in 1966 and went on to raise five children. In 1983, James and Madonna relocated their family to Arlington, Texas, in search of warmer weather and greater opportunities. James was a plumber by trade, but his most cherished work experience was with Arlington Independent School District at Corey Elementary, where he served first as a custodian and later as a cafeteria monitor. He loved sharing stories about his “kids,” especially their struggles with ketchup packets.

James was a proud father of five and often bragged about their accomplishments, though nothing brought him more joy than the grandchildren they gave him. He enjoyed spending time in his garage, often seeking solitude with a cold beer while tinkering or “organizing” his many tools, nails, and screws. Although, he was never quite able to explain why he needed five of what appeared to be the same hammer. James also enjoyed working on projects around the house, woodworking, and gardening.

James is survived by his children: Peter (Marina), Angela (Victor), Susan (Nabil), Maria, and Sara; his grandchildren: Danny (Christina), Elizabeth (Brian), Bryanna, Peyton (Chris), Kaylin (Brandon), Jordan (Venu), Jasmine, and Lisa; and his great-grandchildren: Josephine, Abigail, Eleanor, Noah, Kaiya, Nahlia, and Alex. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Barb Grams, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

James was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Madonna; his parents, twin brother, Gerald (Mary Kay); his sisters, Margaret (Joe) Habhab and Janice (Herbert) Porter; and his brother-in-law, Gary Grams.