James William Broaddus

James William (Jim) Broaddus, age 91, of Brodhead KY died on September 22, 2019. Jim was born in Irvine Kentucky on February 3, 1928 and was the last surviving child of eight children born to Dr. Beverly S. and Lula May (Congleton) Broaddus. He graduated from Estill County High School in 1946, Centre College in 1955, and the University of Kentucky in 1957. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 until he was honorably discharged in 1954. On March 30, 1953 he married Virginia Stevens of Brodhead and together they had three children, Ann Katherine Griffen, James Colson Broaddus, and Matthew William Broaddus. Jim was a teacher who began his career in 1949 at Marble Yard School, a one-room country school in Estill County, and retired as an Associate Professor from Indiana State University in 1995. Jim enjoyed academic writing and the highpoint of his scholarship resulted in the publication of a book that critically examined Edmund Spenser’s epic poem The Faerie Queene, which is an allegorical tale celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Queen Elizabeth I. He was an avid reader and enthusiastic member of the The Bittersweet Readers Club. He was a very proud grandfather of Andrew Griffen, Elisabeth Broaddus, and Daniel Broaddus and his wife Kayla. Jim is survived by his devoted wife Virginia and children Ann Katherine, Matthew and his wife Angela, along with many nieces and nephews, and a large and loving group of Stevens family brothers and sisters-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents Beverly and Lula Broaddus; his sisters Louise Maxson, Margaret Wickersham, Rowena Lorentzson, Beverly Jean Parker, and Irene Broaddus; his brothers Edward and Charles Broaddus; and his son James Colson Broaddus. Visitation will be Friday, September 27 starting at 6:00 p.m. at Marvin E. Owens Home for Funerals, 148 West Main Street, Brodhead, KY. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 28 at 11:00 a.m. at Owens Home for Funerals, Brodhead, KY.  Interment will follow at Maretburg Cemetery, Rockcastle County, KY.