James R. Van Tyle, 66, of Walton passed away peacefully at home on Nov 15, 2013 following a long illness.

James was born on September 10, 1947, in Hancock, NY, the son of the late Clifford and Elizabeth (Gross) Van Tyle. He was a graduate of Hancock Central School, class of 1965 and attended Broome Community College. On September 5, 1970 he married the former Cynthia Bump in Windsor, NY.

James served in the Delaware County Sheriff's Dept. from 1970 until becoming a patrolman for the former BWS Police in Beerston in 1972. James, was second generation BWS, served proudly and climbed the ranks of the BWS and newly structured DEP police to the rank of Captain, until his retirement in 2002. James was a former Certified Firearms Training Instructor and proudly taught the BWS/DEP Firearms training school, which was open to all police agencies, since the early 1980's. He relished the memories and the men of more than 30 years of service.

Jim enjoyed his family and friends, first and foremost, his wife and two boys. He enjoyed and cherished spending time and vacations with his best friend, of 40 plus years, Richard Salsberry and his family. He was a former member and past president of the Walton Lions Club. Jim grew up enjoying hunting, shooting and fishing, and then passing the heritage on to his two boys. He enjoyed being a member of the Walton Mountain Sportsman's Club and serving on the Board of Directors until 2012. Jim deeply cherished the spirit of the hunt, the memories, and the men of the Walton Mountain Sportsman's Club for the past 30 years. Jim was proud of being a die-hard fan of the New York "football" Giants from the days of YA Tittle to the present day Eli Manning, and later in life Dale Earnhardt Jr. of NASCAR.

Jim is survived by his loving family, his wife, Cynthia, his sons, Scott Van Tyle and companion Stacy Dibble and her children Tyler and Brianna, and Eric and Sarah Van Tyle both of Walton; his grandchildren, Trent, Reaghan and Finn; his brother, Robert and Angela Van Tyle, Hancock, his brothers and sisters in law, Dave and Diane Bump, Windsor, Jeff Bump, Hancock; Rick and Judy Bump, Greenville, SC; Joan and Eben Dennis, Dallas, TX; special friends, Richard and Elaine Salsberry, Columbus, OH,; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father in 1980 and his mother October 27, 2013.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 from 4 to 7 PM at the Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend St., Walton, NY. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning, at 11 AM at the First United Methodist, 101 North St., Walton with the Rev. Dale Ashby, officiating. Burial will follow in Walton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Jim's memory may be made to Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Walton Fire Dept. and EMS, 61 West St., Walton, NY 13856.