SPC Arthur James Ketchum (AJ), age 45 of Jacksonville, FL shed his mortal bonds after a battle with Non Hodgkin's Burkett lymphoma in Winston-Salem, NC.
AJ was born to James and Lois (VanDyke) Ketchum in Kalamazoo, MI. AJ graduated from Otsego High School and shortly after joined the Army where he traveled to Germany, South Korea, and served 3 tours in Balad, Afghanistan. AJ was a rabid Cubs fan, a sci-fi geek, and an A & P Mechanic. He had one sister, Terri Ketchum, who gave him 2 nephews and 3 nieces and subsequently 3 great-nephews, Mikel, Kai, Chandra, Sarah and Tamerea. AJ married his wife, Jennifer (Casey) Ketchum in May 2015. AJ had 4 children from a previous marriage Brittaney Ketchum, Albert Ketchum (deceased), Jacob Ketchum (deceased) and Samuel Ketchum. He had 2 step children with Mrs. Ketchum, William Villalta and Antonio Villalta. AJ has several aunts, uncles and cousins. AJ served 19 years in the United States Army and was a member of the 256th Medical Co. Aerial Support in the Florida Army National Guard when he passed.
Services will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 12:00 noon at First Baptist Church of Clarksville: 435 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. A viewing is scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home: 1209 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040, and again on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at First Baptist Church from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
AJ’s son, Jacob Ketchum, died at the age of 4 with complications from Pulmonary Hypertension and it’s his wish that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or make a memorial gift online at www.PHAssociation.org.