James Peter Waters

-James Peter Waters, Jr. passed away on Monday April 17, 2017 at St. Patrick Hospital. He was born 88 years ago in Great Falls to James P. and Louise Waters. The family moved back to Manhattan, MT where they lived until he was three years old. They moved to Glendale, California and joined Holy Family parish. He attended the grammar school until 7th grade. His great joy was being an altar boy for Msgr. Galvin. He always hoped that Mass in latin would return. The family moved back to Manhattan where he finished school, graduating from Manhattan High School in 1946. He enlisted in the Army right from high school. After being honorably discharged, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. He joined the Fencing Team (he fenced foil left-handed) for four years, was elected captain his senior year and was proud of the fact that he and four of his teammates were All-American in 1955 going to the NCAA tournament. He graduated in 1955. Jim worked at Boeing in Seattle for a short while, then went to the University of Oregon to expand his math skills, graduating with a Master's in Operations Research. He was recruited to work for the federal government, remaining with the C.I.A. until his retirement in 1988. He returned to Montana, settling with his family in Missoula. He liked solving problems and codes. The Germans' Enigma machines and how they worked were of special interest. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan, and his three children, Cathleen, Christopher (Nico) and Maggie (John) Wester, his grandson Christian Wester, and cousins in California, Idaho, Montana and Washington.
Our thanks to doctors Michael Caldwell and Jeff LaPorte for their wellness efforts and the staff at St. Patrick Hospital for their kindness and care during his stay.
Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 24t at St. Francis Xavier Church, Missoula, at 11 AM with burial at the Western Montana State Veteran's Cemetery.
Honorary Pallbearers: Bob Minnick, USN, Missoula, MT; Dick Hull, USMC, Norfolk, VA; Greg McCormack, USA, Houston, TX; Billy Storen, USA, Mt. Pleasant, SC; Jack Moore, USN, Roseville, CA; Roy Moore, USMC, Coeur d'Alene, ID.
In lieu of flowers, Jim would appreciate donations to sustain the DeCicco-Langfording Trophy for fencers established at Notre Dame by his parents James Sr. and Louise Waters.