| According to best
information, Jim Wannall Jr. lived in Virginia Beach, VA, where he
worked as a the manager of the Norfolk Lowes Theater for 15 years.
One of his sons reports that Jim's job included providing body guard services
for visiting performers, once for Al Jolson on his last tour. Jolson
took a liking to Jim, and when Jim missed the beginning of the show while
attending to other matters, Jolson repeated the beginning for Jim when
he returned. There is also information that Jim was once employed
as a host for a local children's television program. In 1975 Jim quit the
theater management business and went to work selling carpets for Sears.
He left Sears after three or four years and sold carpets for Montgomery
Ward, where he worked until he died in 1984. According to his son
Nathan, Jim died of a heart attack, however this occurred about a year
after the death of his second wife, and it is possible that Jim, who had
diabetes, did not take proper care of himself during that period.
Note: In the second
marriage, a third son, Alvin Jaiser, was the natural offspring of Elizabeth.
Alvin, who died on January 19, 1984, was never adopted by Jim and did not
carry the Wannall name as previously reported in Wannall.com.
In February, 2004,
we received and posted a series of family photographs from one of Jim's
nieces. You can view them by clicking on the "Gallery Links" below.
Last updated: January
6, 2009 |
