James "Jim" Lester Koonts

James Lester Koonts, age 91 entered into eternal rest on Tuesday 12-21-2021 at Hinkle Hospice House after declining health. A funeral to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday Dec 27, 2021 at Trinity United Methodist Church where he was a member, conducted by Revs. Vern Peterson and John Taylor. Burial will follow in Lexington City Cemetery. The family will see friends Sunday 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Piedmont Funeral Home. Jim was born in Davidson County on January 1, 1930 to Haven Lester and Ada Athay Koonts. Jim was a firefighter with the Lexington Fire Department retiring in 1992, he was one of the first group of certified EMTs in the fire department and was the oldest surviving retired firefighter. Jim also was a North Lexington Triangle Fire Department volunteer. After retiring from the fire department at the urging of Jaybird McCrary he help run the Davidson County Fairgrounds and was one of the first people to greet attendees when they entered the gate. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Flonnie Thomason Koonts brother Joe Koonts; sisters, Grace Jenkins, Louise Leonard and Ann Thompson. Jim is survived by a daughter, Janice Koonts Younts of Lexington: son, Tony Koonts of GA: his grandsons Bryan and Michael Younts and great-grandsons Damion and Logan James Younts; brothers John and Jerry Koonts of Lexington and sister Dorothy Tripp of Welcome. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island NY 10306.