James “Jim” E. Settle

James (Jim) E. Settle, 88, from Clarksville, Indiana (Kenosha, WI) passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  Jim was also a devoted caregiver to his wife, June Kay (Barr), of 55 years who preceded him in death in 2014.

Jim was born in 1935 in Todd County, KY to the late Roma (Blake) and late James A. Settle. He had 5 siblings: Randall (deceased), Larry (deceased), Wayne, Rita (Phil), and his beloved three-year-old sister, Shirley (deceased) of Elkton, KY. Jim is survived by his daughters: Karin Settle (Dennis) of Apopka, FL and Jamie Loomis (Scott) of Kenosha, WI, 2 grand-daughters: Hailey and Meghan (Blake), 4 grand-sons: Nicholas, Christian, Dennis, and Denzel, 4 great grandsons, 2 great great grandchildren, and 2 nieces Jeannie (Mohamed) and Chris.

When Jim was about 10 years old, he moved to Louisville, KY where he lived with his mother and later graduated from Ahrens Trade School in Louisville, KY.  In 1958 he was drafted into the United States Army and served in Germany as a radar operator before being honorably discharged.  He and his wife returned to Clarksville, IN, built a home and started a family, where they remained for 52 years. 

Jim was a very talented auto mechanic, building a longtime career before eventually starting his own garage, Settle’s Automotive in Charlestown, IN where he worked alongside his wife and daughters in the office.  Owning his own garage was his pride and joy.  Later down the road, as Jim aged, he sold the business and pursued a career with MATCO Tools. Anyone who knew Jim, knew he loved cars and could name off every one that he saw, engine size, horse power and transmission.  He may have been known to drag race down by the Ohio River, in his younger years (never got caught). In honoring Jim’s wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes returned to the family cemetery in Elkton, KY.  In lieu of cards/flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made by donating in his name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital where he and his wife were life-long donors