James Patric Upton was called home to be with the Lord and his son Timothy M. Upton on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, at the age of 58.

He was the beloved husband of Debria L. Upton and cherished son of Patricia Upton Kersteter. He was a devoted and proud father of Thomas G. Upton, PHD, and James Philip Upton and grandfather to Sara and Savanna Upton.

He was a 1971 graduate of Pascagoula High School and 1978 graduate of Baptist Seminary of New Orleans. While attending Mobile College of Mobile, Ala., in 1970, he met his wife, Debria.

He was a devoted minister, school teacher and geo-analyst and also served for the United States Naval Reserves in Special Intelligence.

He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Upton, two brothers, Kenneth Allen and Thomas Joseph Carlson, and grandparents Grady and Mabel Upton.

Survivors include his wife, Debria Upton of LaPlace, two sons, Dr. Thomas Upton (Goldie) of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Philip Upton (Erin) of Metairie, mother, Patricia Kersteter (Kirk), sister, Tanya Carlson-Shepherd (Daniel), brother, Randy Carlson (Pam) of Houston, granddaughters, Sara and Savanna Upton, nieces, Jennifer and Skylar Carlson and Dawn Van Horn, and nephews, Corbin and Logan Carlson.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 301 Bamboo Road, LaPlace, Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m., with visitation at 9 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Garden of Memories in Metairie directly following the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Timothy M. Upton Memorial Scholarship c/o Office of Advancement, The Culinary Institute of America, 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY 12538 or donations for the Russian Initiative can be made to the Louisiana Annual Conference, 527 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. (Please designate checks to Conference Advance Special #3788 Russian Initiative.)

The online guestbook is available at www.gardenofmemoriesfuneralhome.com.