James Eubanks

James Warren Eubanks, DVM | September 17, 1932–February 27, 2022
On February 27, 2022, comforted by his wife Trish of 55 years and surrounded by his loving family, Dr. James Warren Eubanks “Jim” of Winston-Salem, NC passed peacefully following a three-week battle to overcome complications from a medical procedure. His strength to fight so valiantly his last month was most certainly fueled by his love for family and friends he desired to have continued time with and who meant everything to him throughout his life. He will certainly be remembered for his strong faith he put into action, his devotion to family, his genuine-one-on-one connections he created with friends, clients and animals and his quiet, but always generous spirit.

Born on September 17, 1932, to James Ottress “Joe” and Tressie Lankford Eubanks, Jim grew up in the small cotton mill town of Buffalo, SC and in the Meadow Woods area outside of Union, SC. Along with his younger brother, Darrell, and many cousins, Jim was especially close with his cousin, Doris Sprouse, who he cared for throughout his life more like a sister. Jim’s active faith, love for animals and unmatchable work ethic developed early growing up on his father’s farm and working in his peach orchard and grocery store. He also was very involved in his church and even sang as part of a quartet. He recently shared with family that the current pandemic was not the first one he had endured and that he remembered spending a summer of his childhood restricted to the indoors due to the Polio outbreak.

After graduating from Union High School in 1950, Jim attended Clemson College (still an all-men’s military college at that time) until his money ran out. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy on the G.I. Bill to earn tuition reimbursement. Jim completed Airman School in 1952 and served a tour on the U.S.S. Roosevelt during the Korean War. It was while serving on the aircraft carrier handling ammunition that Jim became enamored with flight operations igniting his lifelong love of aviation.

Following his time in the Navy, Jim finished his undergraduate degree at Clemson in 1958. While growing up, he watched his dad help community members with their large animals sparking his career interest and desire to obtain his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1961 from the University of Georgia. While pursuing his education Jim also became a father for the first time to his daughter, Joni, with his first wife, Jane Foster Eubanks.

At age 28, Jim served as a postdoctoral fellow in the cardiovascular graduate training program of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine engaged in multiple research projects. Following his training program, he was appointed to the faculty of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine as instructor in experimental medicine and research for undergraduate and graduate teaching programs.

In addition to a strong work ethic, Jim also discovered his enterprising spirit during this time and in July 1963 opened his first of five Veterinary Hospitals in the Winston-Salem area: Country Club Hills Animal Hospital in Gordon Manor. Two years later, Patricia Marie Stutts “Trish” was encouraged by her best friend to bring her sick kitten to the practice (despite already having her own vet). She remembered receiving “frequent” updates from her new vet and later was even offered a part-time job. As a new employee, Trish, was invited to view a surgery and afterwards out for a spaghetti dinner by Jim, which began a courtship eventually leading to their marriage on December 31, 1966, at First Christian Church in Winston-Salem.

They initially lived in the same house that housed their first animal hospital, but as they continued to build their family, they moved into the house next door to their second practice Animal Hospital West on Jonestown Road. With two young boys in tow, James Warren Eubanks, Jr. and Eric Lance Eubanks, their lives were busy and full. Over the years, Jim and Trish worked together so they could also open Sedge Garden Animal Hospital (behind a grocery store) and Mount Tabor Animal Hospital as well as acquire previously established Forsyth Animal Hospital and Boulevard Animal Hospital. Jim also tried a stint as a pet store owner of Gordon Manor Pet Store.

His animal hospital staff became an extended family who affectionately called him “Doc.” Always aware that he was representing his profession, he showed up in a coat and tie each day and was a stickler for hard work and keeping a pristine facility often telling his team “clean as you go.” His children and grandchildren who worked for him always reported receiving “no special treatment” and often were assigned the least favorite cleaning jobs in the kennel. Jim was known for building lifelong relationships with his clients and generations of their pets. His family loved to tease that he was great at remembering the names of the pets he cared for but was not always consistent at remembering their owners’ names when they ran into him outside of the practice. Instead of retiring at age 65, Jim opened another practice and practiced 53 years before selling his last business and retiring at age 82.

Jim’s business success afforded him the opportunity to enjoy many adventures traveling to memorable places with Trish such as Egypt, Australia, St. Bart’s, Alaska and Jerusalem. If he wasn’t working hard, he was playing hard and pursued many hobbies and interests that he could do with his family including flying, boating and jet-skiing. He loved flying to the Bonanza Society fly-ins and traveling to veterinary conferences as well. He even was part of breaking a record by flying in formation with more than 120 other Bonanza owners to the Osh Kosh Air Show. He initially joined the Salem Flyers Flying Club before eventually founding and building a neighborhood called Marchmont Airpark allowing him and his neighbors to fly right to their homes.

Jim gave back tremendously in the communities that supported him serving as a teacher to many vet techs, partnering with Dr. Don Robertson to establish the first emergency veterinary hospital in Forsyth county, serving as the Chairman of the Executive Committee at First Christian Church as well as an Elder and adult Sunday School teacher. He was also involved for years in the Winston-Salem Optimist Club and served as President of the Homeowners Association of the Airpark he founded.

Known as a one-on-one person, Jim always leaned into the lives of his family and friends, neighbors, clients and even those he encountered day-to-day. And as he did, he found ways to quietly help others and loved sharing what he had with them to make sure their needs were taken care of or to make their load a little lighter – and he always did it under the radar with great joy.

His family describes him as a humble and loving man with a faith he displayed by living it out in his day-to-day actions, full of wisdom, and known for his quiet and intentional generosity. He was adventurous, spontaneous, full of energy and had a contagious smile. Often accused of not being able to sit still for long, he loved to take walks, shag, explore and was known to plan big and small gatherings without a lot of notice to those doing all the work to pull it off. He was quiet until you handed him a microphone to make a toast to his loved ones and was known for the songs he sang to his pets anytime it was time to feed them. He loved ice cream and treated his grandchildren to it every chance he could and looked forward to bringing his family together each summer during beach trips. For all of this and so much more he will be greatly missed but held close in the hearts of many.

Jim is preceded in death by his grandparents, aunts, uncles and parents James Ottress Eubanks and Tressie Gertrude Lankford Eubanks; cousin, Doris Hazel Sprouse; and nephew George Abdo Asker.

He is survived by his wife who consistently put a smile on his face, Patricia Stutts Eubanks; his brother and lifelong friend, Cecil Darrell Eubanks, and sister-in-law, Patti Eubanks; his daughter he cherished, Joni Eubanks Mixon & son-in-law, Bill Mixon; his sons who he took immense pride in and loved laughing with James Warren Eubanks, Jr. & Eric Lance Eubanks and daughters-in-law (and love) Nicole Eubanks & Christine Eubanks. He delighted in each of his seven grandchildren and never tired of being in the front row of whatever was going on in their lives to cheer them on: Hanna Jane Mixon, Matthew Thomas Mixon, Shannon Leigh Smith, Savannah Marie Beard, Chloe Marie Arrate, Kathryn Christine Eubanks & Macyn Layne Eubanks; as well as many nieces and nephews including: Kitty Eubanks Besherse, Joey Darrell Eubanks and Julie Eubanks Marsh.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 2 pm at First Christian Church, 2320 Country Club Rd., Winston Salem NC 27104. A reception will follow immediately following the service at the church.

Cremation by Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home at 3315 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

In lieu of flowers please send memorial gifts to one of the organizations Jim loved to support the most:

First Christian Church |  https://www.givelify.com/donate/first-christian-church-winston-salem-nc

The Salvation Army | https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give

Forsyth Humane Society | https://forsythhumane.org/donate-now/

Humane Society of Davie County | https://www.hsdavie.org/

To livestream the service, please use the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8soS6YAukriSz7bisVY1ug