James Fleming Ross (Plutie), 83, of Charles Town, WV went home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2026, at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD. He was born March 19, 1942, in Mt. Hope, WV, and was the son of the late Arthur and Willie Ross.

James was educated in Fayette County Schools. He attended Bluefield State College and graduated in 1964. He crossed Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. in 1962. He became a teacher through default in 1964. He stopped to visit family in Charles Town, WV on his way to New York City for one of those high paying jobs his friends had in social work there. His uncle told him there were openings for teachers in Clarke County. He drove over at 9:00 A.M. and was back at his uncle's house eating lunch at 12:30 with a signed contract. He never regretted his choice and retired after 50 years of service as a Clarke County educator.

He began teaching physical education, health, biology and chemistry for students in grades seven through twelve. That's approximately 3,200 lives he affected in 30 years. Later he taught only science until he was promoted to Dean of students in 1992. The hardest part of his job was to hug a kid with one arm and discipline them with the other. He approached his job as a disciplinarian with caution. He was devoted to children.

James was a sports enthusiast and played basketball at Bluefield State College. He served as a referee for girls and boys basketball teams for over thirty years. He said he was good at his jobs because of the people he knew.

James was an active member of St. Luke Baptist Church, Berryville, VA where he served as a Deacon and he was a member of the Men's Chorus.

He loved to cook and his fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken salad and macaroni and cheese, just to name a few, will be sorely missed. After he would finish cooking if you didn't fix a plate fast enough for him, he would shout "come get it while it's hot".

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers; George (Rusty) and Charles Arthur.

He leaves to cherish his memories, the love of his life, Diane, to whom he was married for over fifty-one years, his sons: James, Jr. and wife, KeiShon of Middletown, DE, Justin of Huntington, WV and Jonathan of Ranson, WV, sister Laura Pitts, husband, Warren of Baltimore, MD; brother, Andre, wife, Mary of Urbana, IL, grandchildren: Jayme (his princess), Jordan, A'Shon, DaeShon, Richard and DeJaun; godchildren: Paul Jones II, Shantella Jones and Kianna Reese, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.

Services will be held on February 21, 2026, at 11:00 A.M, at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, 256 Halltown Road, Harpers Ferry, WV, with Reverend Delbert Pope officiating.

Entombment will follow at Pleasant View Memory Gardens, 2938 Charles Town Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430.

The family will receive friends two hours prior to service at the funeral home.