James Ralph Sides, Sr.
April 17, 1936 ~ December 11, 2021
James R. Sides, Sr., age 85, of Vienna, Va., passed on December 11, 2021 after a long illness. Beloved husband of Martha; father of JR (Kathie), Kent (Rhonda), Patrick (Bonnie); grandfather of Jamie, Jonathan, Kelsey, Peyton, Savannah, Quentin and Angelina and great-grandfather of four. Born in Alabama, graduate of the University of Alabama and Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Research Corporation.
A celebration of his life will be held on a future date in 2022. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Vienna Presbyterian Church at www.viennapres.org or the Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org/donate.
A celebration of his life will be held on a future date in 2022. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Vienna Presbyterian Church at www.viennapres.org or the Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org/donate.
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I had the great honor of knowing Jim Sides, his wife, Martha, and their children through my father, Eston Melton, who worked for ARC between 1962 and 1974. Jim Sides was a true southern gentlemen in every sense of the term and he and my father had a special bond which exists to this day. I’m deeply saddened by his passing. As a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps I attended an acquisition course at FT Belvoir in early 2002. A requirement was for each study group of six students to reach out to a DoD contractor and visit the company to gain an appreciation of what they do and how they interact with the government. I chose ARC and my study group and I spent most of a day out at Pine Ridge, talking to the staff and learning about the important work they did helping secure our Nation. We finished up our visit in a small museum and none other than Jim Sides showed us around and talked about ARC and its proud history. That’s my memory of Jim Sides I’ll always treasure. -W. Melton
Jim will be remembered fondly as our neighbor and friend. We’ll miss chatting while walking along Sawdust and bantering with him about LSU and Alabama! Sending our deepest condolences. All our love, The Sitta Family
My dad Jerry Whelchel worked side by side with Jim. They met at Thiokol in Huntsville, AL and then went on to Atlantic Research. Our familys grew up together. Jim and Martha went on many trips with my mom and dad. Jim spoke at my dad’s funeral and Martha has continued to be a dear friend to our family to this day. When I met my husband who is from Maryland we visited Jim and Martha at their condo on the eastern shore. I will miss him very much. With much love, Beth and John Drummond, Mitzi Whelchel and family.