Captain James P. Googe, Jr. Obituary

Capt. James P. Googe, Jr. (Jim), a retired naval officer, attorney, and former college sailing champion died of complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis on August 3, 2022 in Memphis, TN. Jim was born in Savannah, GA on November 27, 1935 to James P. Googe, Sr. and Dorothy Clemens Googe. Her father, also from Savannah, was a career senior official with the United States Civil Service Commission and a World War II veteran who served in China and a retired Colonel in the Army Reserve. Her mother was born in Bluffton, South Carolina, where she and Colonel Googe later retired.

Jim, a gentleman through and through, was always quick with a smile, a laugh, and a story. He was blessed with a large blood family and a marriage that he cherished above all else. He studied naval and American history, had a passion for quizzes, and loved sailing, piano, and opera. In the early years he was an avid runner. His annual Christmas letter was always in verse; rhymed and measured with precision, and each year he builds a miniature Christmas town, fully landscaped and populated, out of hundreds of pieces he collects.

Jim is a graduate of Marion Military Institute, Marion, AL and graduated in 1957 from the US Naval Academy. While at the Naval Academy, Jim was captain of the varsity sailing team, two-time national intercollegiate sailing champion, president of the Intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association of North America, and recipient of the John Paul Jones Trophy and United States Naval Order. He was the first Naval Academy sailor to be inducted into the College Sailing Hall of Fame.

After graduating, Jim traveled to the USS GYATT (DDG-1), the world’s first guided-missile destroyer based in Norfolk, Virginia, where he met and married former Lynda Sue Smith. Subsequent tours included Missile Officer on USS FARRAGUT (DLG-6), Officer in Charge of a Missile Detachment on USS MCDONOUGH (DLG-8) and Guided Missile School, Dam Neck , GO.

Nuclear Power Selected by Admiral Rickover in 1964, Jim instead left the Navy to attend law school at the University of Georgia (Class of 1967) where he was a member of the Law Review, National Moot Court Team (alternate), student editor of the Georgia Bar Journal, and two-time Shinn Award winner. After law school, Jim practiced for two years at the now Hunter Maclean law firm in Savannah, GA. Jim returned to the Navy as a Judge Advocate, serving as Military Judge and Deputy Director of Law Centers in Jacksonville, FL and Pearl Harbor, HI, and as Staff Judge Advocate to Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific, as Chief Navy Counsel. Inspector General in DC, and as Commandant of the Naval Legal Service Office, Memphis, retiring in 1983. Among his decorations are the Legion of Merit and two Meritorious Service Medals.

After retiring from the Navy, Jim first served as Georgia’s Executive Assistant Attorney General. He then returned to Memphis in 1985 to join First Tennessee Bank as Senior Vice President where he served for 31 years. Jim retired in 2017 after 50 years of practicing law.

Jim was a member of the Georgia, Tennessee, Federal Bar Associations, Military Order of the World Wars, Navy League, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, English Union, Emmanuel Methodist Church and Jeb Russell Sunday School. Class of Second Presbyterian Church.

Jim is predeceased by his parents and his first wife of 45 years, Lynda Sue Googe. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Barbara Ruth Chase Googe, with whom he shared a love of family, music and travel. He is also survived by his son, James P. “Chip” Googe III of Memphis, his daughters Susan G. Welsh of Evans, GA; Rebecca G. Todd of Memphis; and Lynda G. Strong of Bluffton, SC. He was the proud “dad” of seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was a “bonus dad” to Barbara Ruth’s children, James Bruckner Chase III of Somers Point, NJ; Babs Chase of Alexandria, Virginia; Pamela Grafton of Oxford, MS; and “Papa Jim” to his wife’s three grandchildren. Jim believed that in all things, especially his family, he was blessed!

A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church on August 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation preceding the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Emmanuel United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.