Captain James Selwyn Appleton, Sr. age 88, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Riverside Hospital after a brief illness.  A lifelong resident of Newport News, he was born on February 3, 1934, and graduated from Warwick High School in 1953.  He was accepted into the Virginia Pilot Association Apprenticeship Program on November 1, 1956, where he successfully served as a harbor pilot for 38 years.

Captain James Selwyn Appleton, Sr. is survived by his children Lori Michele Appleton (Stacey) and James S. Appleton, Jr. (Chrissy) of Newport News; his stepchildren Dana R. Dame (Janice) of Charlottesville and Christopher L. Dame (Qing) of Mesa, AZ; six grandchildren, Marshall, Graham, Carter, Alex, Shane, and September; two great-grandchildren; Savannah Lillian and Luella Oat; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas Selwyn and Christine Hudgins Appleton, and his sisters Peggy Appleton Surry (Mac) and Jacqueline Appleton Martin (Ed).

Jimmy taught his children and grandchildren about hard work, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and frugality. From 1969 until 2015 he loved spending time with his family at his summer home in Lake Gaston, NC where he taught his children and grandchildren how to swim, ski, fish, sail, and all about safety and boating on the water. Jimmy was also an avid hunter and fisherman and loved spending time in Surry, VA with his extended Scott family. In later years he spent time sharing stories of his younger days with his family, friends, and neighbors.

Jimmy will be deeply missed by so many whose lives he touched.

The family will receive friends for visitation at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Peninsula Funeral Home with the Memorial Service immediately following at 12:00 p.m.  Interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Park.   The funeral home will receive all floral arrangements.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.