James Phillip Sawyer, 95, of New Wilmington, passed away the morning of May 31, 2017 at Shenango Presbyterian SeniorCare. Born in Darlington, PA on June 22, 1921, he was a son to Benjamin Clark and Anna Arnold Sawyer. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Virginia Kroen Sawyer, on February 28, 1995. Subsequently he married Nancy Rosen, who survives him at the Shenango Home. Mr. Sawyer earned his Bachelors Degree in engineering from Geneva College and then did post graduate work at Notre Dame University. He was employed as a ceramic engineer with Shenango China/Interpace Corporation from 1962 until his retirement in 1988. Previous employers included Wellsville China Company (Wellsville, OH) and Jackson China (DuBois, PA). He served his country as a US Navy officer during World War II (1943-46) and the Korean War (1951-53). While serving in WWII on USS ISM81 ship he crossed the equator twice, thus belonging to The Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon and The Ancient Order of the Deep. He served on the board of directors at Penn State Central (DuBois, PA), Jameson Memorial Hospital, and First National Bank of Lawrence County; served as campaign chair for United Way; was president of American Fine China Guild and American Restaurant China Council; was a member of the Youngstown Club, the Lawrence Club and the New Castle Country Club; and designed and manufactured china for the white house under the Johnson administration. As a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church he served as an elder. Besides his wife, survivors include two daughters, Cynthia A. (Bob) Wheeling of Lancaster, PA and Deborah S. (Jeff) Roud of New Castle; two sons, J. Thomas (Tish) Sawyer of Spokane, WA and Phillip N. (fiancee, Cecilia Ryan) Sawyer of New Castle; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents and his wife, Virginia. Visitation will be on Saturday from 9-11 am at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road, New Castle. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday at the funeral home with his nephew, Rev. Clark Sawyer officiating. Burial will take place in Seceder UP Cemetery in Darlington, PA. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Sawyer's name to Alzheimer's Association, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Online condolences or memories may be shared with the family at www.cunninghamfh.com.