James (Jim) Henry Kling

James (Jim) Henry Kling, 80, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025. He was born in Miami, FL, the second son of Eugene Kling and Roselyn Houtchings Kling. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School (Miami, FL) and earned an engineering degree from the University of Florida and an MBA from Florida International University. He served six years in the US Navy/Navy Reserves. His career included engineering positions at various large corporations, including Armstrong Cork Company (Lancaster, PA), Eastern Airlines (Miami, FL), BellSouth (Miami, FL), Lockheed Martin (Marietta, GA), and the Federal Reserve Bank (Atlanta, GA). Jim was a tenured professor of engineering at Southern Polytechnic State University (now Kennesaw State University) for 11 years. He also owned his own consulting firm, conducting training and development for a number of organizations across North America.

Jim was married for 58 years to his high school sweetheart, Michele. They were founding members of Transfiguration Catholic Church (Marietta, GA), where Jim taught teen and adult religious education and served as a regular lector. Outside of work, he enjoyed spending time outdoors, camping, home construction projects, running a Christmas tree farm, and playing in a men’s lacrosse club. He was an avid reader, always willing to help others, a natural born teacher with abundant patience, and welcomed any opportunity for creative projects, like planning scavenger hunts for each of his children’s 12th birthdays. A former Eagle Scout himself, Jim loved staying involved with Boy Scouts through volunteering with his sons’ troops.

A loving husband, devoted father, and grandfather, Jim is survived by his wife, Michele; children Catherine (Tim), Matthew (fiance Meghan), Heather (Kurt), and Keith (Jennifer); grandchildren Noah, Anna, and George, brother-in-law David (Janet), sister-in-law Rosemary; and many nieces and nephews. His family and friends will miss his kindness, sense of humor (especially his love of dad-jokes and puns), adventurous spirit, and generous nature. 

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to their friends and family for their loving support. They also wish to thank the dedicated staff of Merrill Gardens at Woodstock and Trinity Hospice for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jim’s memory to the Brain Injury Association of Georgia, the Arbor Day Foundation, or Christopher Columbus High School general fund. A celebration of life for Jim is being planned, and details are forthcoming.