James Scharnberg

James Fagan Scharnberg, 80, of Malvern, PA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, January 27 at Barclay Friends in West Chester, PA.

Born February 21, 1938 in Newport, AR, he was a son of the late Oliver H. Scharnberg and Lady Elizabeth Watson. He was the beloved husband of the late Patricia Colladay Scharnberg and the late Marsha Gray Laubenstein Knight-Scharnberg; loving father of Eric Scharnberg (Cristina), Alex Scharnberg, and (stepdaughter) Gwendolyne Knight; adoring grandfather of Olivia and Ayla; dear brother of William Luker (Cindy), and Timothy Watson, Sr. (Betsy); and caring uncle to Timothy, Todd, Leslie, Jennifer, and Andrew.

Jim graduated from Yale University School of Art and Design in 1959. He had a long and gratifying career in commercial graphic design. He volunteered for Boy Scout Troop 284, both his sons becoming Eagle Scouts. Jim was a member of St. Anthony Hall fraternity, the Franklin Inn Club, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, and the Baronial Order of Magna Charta.

Jim was the Master of Basset Hounds for Skycastle French Hounds. He led a devoted cadre of volunteer hunt staff, including many young people, serving as their mentor and friend. A great highlight in his life were his visits to France in 2017 and 2018 as the guest of several French Hunt Masters; joining them on exciting hunts for wild boar.

Jim worked tirelessly to preserve open space and advocated for fair dog, sport hunting and land-use laws, serving on committees and advisory boards providing guidance on dog care and environmental issues to the Governor and Pennsylvania state legislature. He was dedicated to the responsible breeding of hounds, particularly the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, or French basset hound, receiving honors from the PBGV Club of France recognizing efforts to eradicate genetic eye disease.



Jim had a great interest in the history of hunting with hounds and amassed one of the finest private hunting libraries in America.

He authored several books and articles on hunting, including the "Beagling and Basseting" handbook for hunt staff members and "Rycroft on Hounds, Hunting and Country" a treasured collection of essays.

Jim also published several volumes of poems that celebrated nature.

Throughout his life Jim strived to live by the principles of honesty, strong family communication, facing one's fears and accepting his children and everyone he knew for who they were and on their own terms. As a result of these life principles he was loved and admired by many and will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

His memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, February 23rd at 11AM at St Andrews Episcopal Church, 7 St Andrews Ln, Glenmoore, PA 19343. For directions, Jim's personal online memorial guestbook, please visit skycastlefrenchhounds.com.



In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jim's memory to Skycastle French Hounds c/o Mr. Barrett E. Farnham, 988 Saint Matthews Rd., Chester Springs, PA 19425. Checks should be made out to Skycastle French Hounds.