James Franklin McLaughlin, 83, a 50 year resident of Severna Park, died peacefully April 12, 2012 at the Anne Arundel Medical Center from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.

Jim was born July 12, 1928 in York, Pennsylvania to the late Roy D. and Wilma A. (Tyson) McLaughlin. The family later moved to Reading, Pennsylvania where he attended elementary school through college on the same street.

Jim served in the U.S. Navy as a radar technician from 1946-1948 and was a graduate of Albright College and the University of Delaware, acquiring his Masters of Physics degree in 1954.

He worked as an engineer at Sperry Gyroscope Company in Great Neck, New York from 1954 to 1956; at Western Electric in Laureldale, Pennsylvania until 1961; and thirty-nine years in the Microwave Tube Lab at Westinghouse Corporation in Linthicum until his retirement in 1990.

Jim was an avid reader, focusing on science and religion. He enjoyed sports, traveling, walking and the beauty of nature. He loved his family dearly.

Mr. McLaughlin was preceded in death by his brother Charles of Reading, Pennsylvania and his sister Jane Rickenbach Messner of Goodrich, Texas.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years Virginia L. (Barr) McLaughlin; his son the Rev. Craig A. McLaughlin and wife Lisa of Bel Air; his daughter Sharon Ford and husband Louis of Linthicum Heights; six grandchildren: David McLaughlin and wife Katie of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, Sarah McLaughlin of Washington, D.C., Amy and Hannah McLaughlin of Bel Air, Holly and Robert Ford of Linthicum Heights; and eight nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17 at Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Road, Severna Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Severna Park United Methodist Church.