James E. Gambles, 79, of Troy went home to be with our Lord September 18, 2010.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. September 23 at Harrison Funeral Home on Academy Street in Troy.

Funeral services will be held at Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church in Luverne Friday, September 24, 2010 at 2 p.m. Interment will follow.

Reverend Edward Norfleet will officiate.

Mr. Gamble was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Melissa and twelve siblings.

He is survived by his wife, Christine; four children; four grandchildren; brother, Johnnie Gambles of Fort Pierce, Florida as well as many other family members and friends. He will be missed by many, especially his baby girls, Sarah and Crystal.

Mr. Gambles had a B.S. Degree from Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. He retired as a Sr. Master Chief from the United States Navy. He spent most of his career as an electrician aboard submarines. While serving on the U.S.S. Tiru, he was responsible for saving many men and the submarine due to a torpedo malfunction. He was a true hero. Following retirement from the navy, he worked as a planner/estimator at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. He and his family returned home to Alabama in 1991.

He loved gardening, fishing, animals and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a devoted member of Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church and even attended school there as a child.

The family deeply appreciates the love and overwhelming generosity given to them by friends and members of the community; especially Banks School faculty and staff, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church Building Fund or Hospice Advantage of Troy.

Pallbearers will be James McGehee, J.W. McGehee, Pete Flournoy, David Gambles, Robert Gambles and Eddie Lee Flournoy.

Honorary pallbearers will be Daniel Stringer and James I. Roberson.