Friends remember James Morris Bingham of Bowling Green as a feisty character.

Bingham, who was a 67-year-old retired assistant geography professor, died Saturday, May 2 at Greenview Regional Hospital, said Eddie Smith, manager of J.C. Kirby Lovers Lane Chapel.

Bingham was born Sept. 2, 1941, Smith said.

Western hired Bingham as a geography professor in 1965, said David Keeling, the geography and geology department head. Bingham went into transitional retirement in 2007.

He said Bingham was an “old school” professor who encouraged students to get involved in their education.

Keeling, who was Bingham’s department head for eight years, said he and Bingham shared an interest in regional planning and transportation research.

He said Bingham was a lot of fun, with a sense of humor. Keeling said Bingham worked well with students.

He said Bingham had been in and out of the hospital before going into intensive care last month.

The chapel will host Bingham’s visitations 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow, said Ryan Mestas, assistant manager for the chapel.

The funeral service will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday so Bingham’s Western colleagues can attend, Mestas said.

The Herald couldn’t reach Bingham’s family for comment on this story.