ALTAMONT — James W. McIntyre Sr. loved the Marines, loved his work at General Electric, and loved his family. He died on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Florida with his family. He was 80.

“He was an all-around good guy,” said his son Timothy McIntyre. “He will be sorely missed.”

He was born on Oct. 27, 1937, son of the late James H. and Florence McIntyre, and grew up in Colonie. He was married to E. Ruth McIntyre.

“They were childhood sweethearts,” said their son.  “They were married for 61 years and were together for 66 years. They grew up in the same neighborhood.”

The McIntyres had eight children. Describing Mr. McIntyre as a father, his son said, “He was quiet and well-rounded. He was not so stern but he got his point across.

Mr. McIntyre served in the Guilderland Center and Fuller Road volunteer fire companies.

“He loved to camp, fish, and hunt,” said his son. “We did a lot together.”

Two of Mr. McIntyre’s sons followed him into the Marines. He had served in the reserves from 1954 to 1962. “He loved it. He was a diehard Marine. He was as proud as he could be of the Marines,” said his son. “Me and my brother followed right behind him.”

In his later years, Mr. McIntyre enjoyed accompanying his son to the American Legion Hall in Altamont. “He’d come when we had functions going on and spend time with us,” said his son.

Mr. McIntyre also loved his work, his son said. He worked at many different tasks for General Electric, ranging from operating a crane to making castings for large steam turbines.

When Mr. McIntyre retired, he and his wife realized a long-held dream. They moved to Florida in 1996. “He just enjoyed the sun — the hotter the better,” said his son. “It was always their dream together to go down South. They did, and they lived happily ever after,” said their son.

Describing his father’s personality, Timothy McIntyre said, “He was so low-key, very lightly spoken, and he had a great sense of humor.”

Mr. McIntyre loved spending time with his grandchildren. “He’d say he could do his thing with them and then send them home,” said his son. “He loved it … It kept him alive.”

His son also said, “He loved jokes. I’d tell him jokes. He’d try to repeat them and mess them up every time.”

Mr. McIntyre was with his father in Florida as he was dying. “When he was passing, he could still hear me,” he said. Mr. McIntyre named some of the family that his father would be joining in Heaven.

He said to his father, “Do me a favor. Don’t tell them all my jokes.”

Timothy McIntyre concluded, “He nodded. He could hear me.”

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James W. McIntyre Sr. is survived by his wife of 61 years, E. Ruth McIntyre; by their children, Susan Stark and her husband, Bob, William E. McIntyre and his wife, Gen, Timothy J. McIntyre, and Joseph M. McIntyre; by their son-in-law, Mitchell Russell; by their many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild; by his two sisters and one brother; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

His brother, Thomas McIntyre, died before him as did four of his children — James W. McIntyre Jr., Ruthanne Russell, John Frances McIntyre, and David James McIntyre.

Calling hours were held on Sunday, Jan. 21, at New Comer Cremations & Funerals with a funeral service there on Monday, Jan. 22. A graveside service followed at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Guilderland. Mourners may leave condolences online at www.NewComerAlbany.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Riders, 988 Altamont Blvd., Altamont, NY 12009.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer