Ex-longshoreman was enthusiastic Bradner volunteer

2/18/2006

BRADNER, Ohio - Jack McClellan James, 65, a retired longshoreman for CSX Transportation in Oregon and a community volunteer in Bradner, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday in his home here.

Mr. James became a longshoreman for the then-Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in 1966, following the advice of his father-in-law, the late Leonard Earl, who was a retired C&O longshoreman. Mr. James retired from CSX in 1995 after 29 years of service.

Before that, Mr. James was a laborer for several companies in Fostoria.

"He was hardworking and he volunteered for everything," his son, Terry Earl James, said.

The elder Mr. James was a firefighter for the Bradner Volunteer Fire Department and the Risingsun Volunteer Fire Department for many years.

He also was president of the Bradner Little League from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s and was instrumental in building the village swimming pool in Bradner as the first president of the Bradner Pool Board.

A native of Inez, Ky., Mr. James graduated from Risingsun, Ohio, High School, where he received all-state honors playing football. He later played football for Findlay College, which he attended for a year.

Mr. James was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Bradner, where he was on the council.

His other memberships included International Longshoremen's Association Local 1768, Toledo; Pemberville Lodge, F&AM; Scottish Rite, Valley of Toledo, and Zenobia Shrine Temple, also in Toledo.

Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Sarah Lee James; sons, Timothy Stephen James and Terry Earl James; daughter, Tamara Sue Flanagan; brother, John Butler James; sister, Myrtle Louise Yoder, and six grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in St. James Lutheran Church, Bradner, where visitation will be after 10 a.m. today. Arrangements are by the Barndt Funeral Home, Wayne, Ohio.

The family suggests tributes to the church or Bradner Little League.