James John Trabaudo Sr., 73 SMYRNA - James John Trabaudo Sr., 73, died peacefully on Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, in his home in Smyrna, of cancer. James was born on Friday, Feb. 28, 1936, in Wilmington, to the late Anna and John Trabaudo. James grew up in Holloway Terrace with his siblings Jeanette and Gloria. As a boy he fell in love with Dream Cars, in particular a 1940 candy-apple red Ford Coupe. From 1950 to 1954 he attended William Penn High School where he excelled as a star football running back and free safety. He fell in love with his football teammates, also known as "The Four J's". During his playing years, William Penn went undefeated three seasons in a row. James was named MVP of the team. From 1955 to 1959, he briefly attended Mississippi Southern University on a scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He fell in love with his country. James was tapped to be a member of the elite 101'st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On September 24, 1957, he became a part of U.S. history by defending the "Little Rock Nine" at one of America's first desegregated High Schools. In 1960 he fell in love with Jean Anne Rowe. To fund the engagement ring purchase, he began employment with Chrysler Motors in Newark. In the summer of 1961, James married Jean Anne at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Wilmington. In 1962, he had his first child John, followed by Michele (1963), James "Macky" (1965), and Jeff (1970). He fell in love with his kids. In 1973, he migrated to Smyrna, where he and his father built a house from scratch. There, he fell in love with a John Deere tractor (which never got more than two days of rest). To this day, his lawn and the Great Wall are the only two things that can be recognized from space. He began a small farm with his steers Baron, Mozart, and Meat, and his horses Lightning, Spicy, and Honey. He fell in love with Meat (and steak). In the 1980's, James was a part of history again as he oversaw the assembly of millions of "K Cars", which were credited for saving Chrysler. After his retirement in 1990, James began a new love affair with his grandchildren, Annalisa and Reece, children of John and Lisa Trabaudo of Smyrna; Knute and Alie, children of Michele and Tim Brewer of Clayton; Zachery and Jamie, children of James "Macky" and Heather Trabaudo of Clayton; and James, son of Jeff Trabaudo and Tricia Chan of Richmond, Va. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 40 years, Jean Ann; his parents Anna and John, and his sister, Jeanette. James is survived by all of his children and grandchildren. A service for James will be offered at the Faries Funeral Home, 29 South Main Street, Smyrna, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 10 a.m. Friends may call on the family at the funeral home from 9 to 10 a.m. Interment will be conducted at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery located at 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear. Thank you to everyone who knew him, and loved him just the same; you are true friends. A special thanks to those who went beyond the call of duty in caring for him. And, thank you God for ensuring that the grass did not need mowing at the time of his passing. James' Motto: You Can Do Anything...Yourself; Owe Nothing. Letters of condolence may be sent by visiting www.fariesfuneralhome.com.