James Nelson Rolph, 76

James Nelson Rolph, 76, passed away on Friday, January 22, 2021, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint.

Jim was born on March 18, 1944, in Long Beach, California, to Frank N. Rolph and Pauline Stoddard Rolph. As a youth he participated in scouting and band, where he played the trumpet. He went through the Sea Scout program before attending college. During this time he received his captain’s license for sailing. He studied mechanical engineering at UCLA and then did some graduate work at Southern California School of Design. The two fields were combined for him to become a design engineer.

He was drafted to help design aircraft during the Vietnam War. He then worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft on the space program; including the Apollo 13 and the moon landing. He then transferred to Executive Motor Coach to design motor homes. He spent the next 50 years in the RV industry. Jim married Barbara Price on November 9, 2003, in Minneapolis, Kansas. At the time of his death he was working on a travel trailer for Travels Are Grand, LLC, which he co-owned with his wife.

Throughout his life he enjoyed cars, planes, and boats. After moving to Sandpoint he mentored several young people in building RVs and car engines.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Price Rolph of Kootenai, Idaho; two daughters, Michele (John) Bonifazio of Sequim, Washington, and Renee Clements of Buckeye, Arizona; five grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Steven Rolph.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bonner Community Food Bank, 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Jim’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.