James "Jim" Douglas Alston's Obituary
DAD, A Life Well Lived...
James Douglas Alston (Jim) was born on August 2, 1926 in Buffalo, NY to the late Mark Alston and Rosalie Henderson Alston. Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Carl L. Alston
He grew up in Buffalo, NY and was educated in the Buffalo Public School System. He played basketball for and graduated from Seneca Vocational High School. After graduation he join the US Army and was honorably discharged in December 1946.
On May 22, 1948 Jim married his sweetheart, the late Alice Riley. Out of this union of nearly 56 years they had three daughters, Carol Eva, Dianne Michele and Patricia Rose.
In 1948 Jim began working for the US Postal Service. After 37 years in June 1984 he retired as the PostMaster of the Oak Park, IL Post Office. Jim and Alice retired to Richardson Texas in 1984 to be closer to family.
Jim was an active sports enthusiast. He was a state champion basketball player in high school and played organized baseball in his earlier years. In 1958 he began bowling at the Ellicott Lanes in Buffalo, NY. In 1959 he joined The National Bowling Association (TNBA) and worked diligently to promote and improve the organization. In 1964 he became president of the Buffalo Bowling Senate and that same year led his team to win the National Championship Tournament. In 1970 the TNBA hired him as the National Tournament Director. Over the years as the director Jim achieved many honors and awards including TNBA Life Member (1976), TNBA Hall of Fame (1986) and in 1995 the TNBA National Mixed Doubles Tournament was named in his honor. On May 23, 2007 he retired as the TNBA’s National Tournament Director. At his retirement farewell Jim was honored with a New York State Assembly Citation and the City of Buffalo Proclamation as “James D. Alston Day”. Jim also serviced on the board of directors for the American Bowling Congress (ABC) for 11 years. Jim’s love for bowling never ended.
Jim also loved playing golf and played it for over 60 years. He played as often as he could before retiring and almost everyday in the warm weather during his golden years. If fact he hit his last Hole-in-One in the summer of 2019 at the age of 93! He was an original member of the Dallas Pro Duffer Southwest Golf Association.
The joy of his life was family and friends. Jim was a loving husband and father all of his life. He was what we now called a “Girl Dad” long before the phrase/hashtag was coined.
Jim leaves to celebrate his legacy 3 daughters, Carol Alston of Stone Mountain, GA, Dianne Curry and husband, Levy of Dallas, TX and Patricia Alston of Loganville, GA; 3 grandchildren, Ramon Alston, Damani Fulks, and Tasha Curry-Corcoran and husband Daniel; 4 great-grandchildren, Raquisha, Sierra, Makenna, Damani II; one great-great grandchild, Samara; first-cousins, Hazel Cogar of Closter, NJ and Helen Colbert of W.Amherst, NY and a host of relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of James D. Alston to:
The First Tee of Greater Dallas, www.firstteedallas.org (GOLF)
The Junior Program and Scholarship Program, Inc of The National Bowling Association, www.tnbainc.org (BOWLING)
Acknowledgment
The family extends their deepest appreciation for the many thoughtful deeds and comforting expressions of sympathy, love, and kindness through your gifts of flowers, food, cards, visits, phone calls and especially your prayers. Please continue to pray for our strength.
Special thanks to Baylor University Medical Center Dallas and Adora Mid Town Park Rehabilitation Facility for loving care administered to our beloved Jim. May God’s blessings be yours.
What’s your fondest memory of James "Jim"?
What’s a lesson you learned from James "Jim"?
Share a story where James "Jim"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James "Jim" you’ll never forget.
How did James "Jim" make you smile?