JAMES (JIM) FLOYD MCINROY Dec. 15, 1932 – June 10, 2026
On the morning of June 10, 2026, surrounded by love ones, Jim peacefully left this world to join his beloved wife Marjorie in heaven.
Jim was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania to Floyd and Angie McInroy. Jim was the oldest of three boys, followed by brothers, John (Jack) and Tom.
After graduating high school in Wellsboro, PA in 1950, Jim continued his education at Mansfield State Teachers College. He hitchhiked daily to and from college. Each day he ate lunch in a small restaurant downtown. It was there that he met a cute little waitress that would slip him a free glass of milk or dessert. Jim was smitten with the waitress whom he said, “had the greatest smile and personality.” This began his relationship with the love of his life and his wife of 69 years.
Jim and Marjorie Beach were married in September of 1953. They had no trouble keeping busy, as Jim graduated from Mansfield with a major in Mathematics and Chemistry, then began teaching Math and Science in PA and NY public schools. This was followed by a Chemistry professor position at Slippery Rock State College in PA. All the while, Jim and Marge worked together to learn the art of parenting the McInroy clan that grew at a steady pace to include five children.
Jim’s marriage and parenting education developed alongside his academic education.
From 1958-59 Jim attended Pennsylvania State University where he earned his Master of Education degree with a major in Physical Science. In 1971 Jim received a Master of Science and PhD in Radiation Biology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Jim’s impressive and impactful career in Science spanned several years. In 1972 Jim joined the Health Research Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory as project leader. From 1979-1984 Jim served as deputy group leader of the Health & Safety Division, Epidemiology Group.
Jim played an instrumental role in the development of the National Bureau of Standards, (now NIST), natural matrix reference materials containing metabolized actinide elements in human tissues (lung, liver and bone).
Jim was a member of the Radiation Standards Committee and the Bioassay Program of the Health Physics Society.
After retirement he became a member of the LANL/DOE Human Studies Project and was responsible for making all documents associated with the Human Tissue Study Project available to the public as well as other researchers.
Jim’s papers and research have been presented all over the world in places including Sweden, Japan, India, Brazil and France.
Despite all of his academic and professional accomplishments, nothing was more important to Jim than his faith and his family. His greatest source of pride was his marriage to Marge and the family they created together. A family that fished, camped, worked, played and mostly laughed together. Throughout Jim’s life, in good times and challenging times, he ALWAYS maintained his ability to laugh… often at himself.
Jim often mentioned (including in his last moments of life) how incredibly grateful he was for the family God has blessed he and Marge with.
Jim’s steps that began in the little town of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania took him all around the world and yet success and accolades never changed Jim from the humble, kind man of integrity that he was for all of his days. He always put others first in everything he did.
Jim’s impact and positive influence in this world made a difference, none greater than the impact on his family that is forever grateful and honored to call him ours.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marjorie (Marge), His parents (Floyd & Angie), brother (Tom), and sister-in-law (Nancy).
He is survived by his children: Barbara Lindsay (Keith), Bob McInroy (Rhonda), Dave McInroy (Lorri), Bill McInroy (Shelly), Sandy Keyser (Rich), grandchildren: Don Hamilton, Chris Smith (Melissa), Nathan Lindsay (Lauren) Travis McInroy (Crista), Jeff McInroy (Amanda), Kyle McInroy (Julia), Ryan Keyser (Amanda), Austin Keyser, 8 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. Brother: Jack McInroy (Barbara), as well as a host of other special family members and friends.
A private family service honoring Jim will be in September at the United Church in Los Alamos. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (one of Jim’s favorite charities).
