James Joseph Vincent

James Joseph Vincent was the perfect husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and retired U.S. Navy Master Chief. He left this world on August 9, 2023, at age 87 after a courageous battle from a massive stroke.

He was born to Julia Elizabeth and Joseph Vincent Povlowich on April 29th, 1936, in Portland, Oregon. This was the day a great man was born. He grew up in the great state of Oregon where he attended elementary, middle, high school and college. After graduation, he signed up for the U.S. Navy where he served 20 years of service on various destroyers and another 10 years on call. He enlisted in 1954-starting his career as a Fireman Apprentice and worked his way up to Master Chief. He served in Vietnam, where his ship was attacked by missiles and where his best friend was killed. He was awarded the bronze star for heroic service in a combat zone.

Several years after joining the Navy, he met his soul mate, Carol K, “Penny” Vincent his wife, mother to his children, and best friend. James once said, “it was love at first sight” and Mother once told us in jest, that she called him “the professor,” because he seemed to know everything. Our parents’ first date was at the skating rink, “The Palace,” in Long Beach. This started a love story that lasted for 64 years of wedded bliss. Majority of his Naval career was in Long Beach and San Diego. He trained new recruits in boot camp and was always out to sea. He loved being out on the ocean nine months out of the year. He retired in 1974 where he began his next career as a stationary engineer.

James is survived by his multiple children: Candi and her husband Burt, Buffy, Robbie and his husband Richard, Pattie and her husband Jim, Charles and his wife Evelyn, Sylvia and her life-partner Dale. As well as Grandchildren Shem, Jayme and his wife Tiffany, Nikole, Mathew,  Marc; and Great-Grandchildren Kaheal, Hailey, Javale, and Sophia. His brother-in-law Lenny and his life-partner Lynn and  many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and an number  of friends and other loved ones.

<

>