James worked in a men's clothing store while attending high school. He attended Oklahoma University for 2 years before joining the Coast Guard. At about that time ‏(during the WW-II)‏, the Coast Guard became part of the Navy. He was stationed in New Orleans for a while and then down to St. Augustine, FL. He was discharged from the Navy a few years later and then returned to finish college.

His wife Lurene says that he graduated with a business degree from Tulsa University. He took a job with Skelly Oil, a local Tulsa oil company, as a Landman and wrote oil leases and scouted out new areas to develop. The oil company was bought and merged with other companies several times through-out the time James worked there. James Wade Loofbourrow retired on 1 Jan 1986 from Getty Oil Company after 36 years. Lurene says that the company was owned by Texaco and finally merged into Chevron.

He and Lurene had a 160 acre farm, near Edmond, about 20 miles from where they lived in Oklahoma City. It is catty-cornered from John A. Loofbourrow's old farm.

James was a very social person and made many close friends that he maintained contact with. Everyone seemed to enjoy him and Lurene and valued their friendship.

He loved fishing and hunting. In later life, he became more interested in family history, visiting Iowa and relatives all over the U.S. He and Margie ‏(author)‏ often would share research information. His and Lurene's research greatly contributed to our family history.