James Frederick Bodie was born on October 23, 1938 in High Point, North Carolina. Jim graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. He was a First Lieutenant in the US Army and served in the US, Germany, and France.  Jim played on the NC State Tennis Team and the US Army Tennis Team, and he continued to play in leagues throughout his adult life.  Jim was a mechanical engineer for Siemens Industries for 25 years.

Jim enjoyed traveling, learning foreign languages, playing piano, hiking, the family dogs, and spending time with his wife and children. He was an excellent cook and had an impressive collection of cookbooks that were read regularly.  He is survived by his wife, Deborah Bodie, and his children, Chris Bodie and Kim Bodie.