James A. Haskins Sr.

April 11, 2019

James A. Haskins, Sr., 91, of Hoffman Avenue, Cranston, died Thursday, April 11, 2019 at home. He was the son of the late Allen and Cora (Grant) Haskins. Born in Providence, James was a loyal and accomplished Rhode Island resident. He joined the navy at the age of 17 and served as a radio operator on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt during WWII. He enjoyed a long and successful sales career, first as a door-to-door salesman for Diamond Matches, and later as a realtor, founding the firm Ocean State Realty. During this time he held the position of president of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors. Among many recollections, Jim will be remembered most fondly by family and friends for his Sunday drives along Narragansett Beach, rounds of golf at Goddard Park, weekly cribbage at Panera Bread, and for offering more than a few formidable games of pool. He is survived by his children, James, Jr. and his wife, Dina Haskins, of Coventry; Lynne Kindle, of Wakefield; Thomas Haskins, of Coventry; Alan Haskins, of Wakefield; Gail Williams and her husband, Wayne, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Glenn and his wife, Deborah Haskins, of Warwick; fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. James was predeceased by his former wife, Barbara (Fallon) Haskins, in 2006, and his longtime companion, Catherine (McCarthy) Reynolds, in 2016. A Committal Service with Military Honors will be held Saturday, May 4th at 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, RI. (Please meet at the Cemetery Administration building at 11:10 a.m.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Continuum Hospice of Warwick.