James Harold "Jim" Fountain, 88, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. He was born Aug. 7, 1928, at Lerado, Kan., the son of James Harold and Pearl Mae (Dunn) Fountain.

He was a 1946 graduate of Langdon High School and a 1976 graduate of the FBI Academy. Jim was a veteran, serving in both the United States Army and the United States Navy. He was the Reno County Sheriff from 1973 to 1993. Jim was a member of the Nickerson United Methodist Church.

Some of his favorite pastimes included woodworking, hunting, and fishing. Jim and his family were avid Hutchinson Community College basketball fans.

On May 26, 1948, he married Wanda Louise Holmes in her parents' home, in Langdon. She died April 13, 2015. Surviving are: their children and spouses, Sheryl Hoyle (Bruce), Kevin Fountain (Patti Wyland), all of Nickerson, Robin Allen of Kansas City, and James "Gregg" of Big Lake, Alaska; brothers, Dean of Sterling, Robert (Carolyn) of Lubbock, Texas, Jack (Kay) of Arlington, Budd (Glenda) of Langdon; sisters, Cathie Grant (Warren) of Burke, Virginia, and Flo Ann Brehm (Rick) of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren, Jim McVey, Larry McVey, Kendra Hughes (Shane); and four great-grandchildren, Hunter, Korbin, Maddox, and Keira. He was preceded in death by: his parents; son-in-law, Jeff Allen; grandson, John Allen; and a sister-in-law, Dorothea Fountain.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at Nickerson United Methodist Church, 8200 N. Riverton Road, Nickerson, with the Reverend Melissa Naylor presiding. Burial, with military honors, will be conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard in Lerado Cemetery, rural Arlington. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the church or the Reno County Deputy Sheriff's Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge #18, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.