James E. Gary, age 84, of Orient, passed away Feb. 9, 2017, at Glenwood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, Dublin.
He was born May 4, 1932, in Columbus, to the late James and Margaret (Norton) Gary.
Jim graduated from Linden-McKinley High School in 1950 and attended Franklin University.
Jim coached both bantam league football and basketball with Grove City Kids Association and directed shows for Teens Unlimited.
He was President and General Manager of Scioto Erectors, as well as a member of Ohio Contractors Association, American Welding Society, a 60-year member of Ironworkers Union Local #172, a former board member of the Central Ohio Chapter of American Subcontractors Association and past president of The Central Ohio Erectors Association.
Jim was a member of Musician’s Local #103 for over 50 years. Jim played trombone and was inducted into the Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame in 1999. He played with many bands, most notably Al Waslohn, Dick Stein, Marilyn (Beckman) Daye, Anne Young and the Buckeye Tailgaters.
He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War serving on the USS Pollux and was a life member of the Harrisburg VFW.
Survivors include his wife, Theda (Hiles) Gary; children, Pamela (Larry) Nichols, Craig Gary, Lisa (fiancé, Micheal Rausch) Himes and Julie Coddington; grandchildren, Mindy Dixson, Jill Mallory, Cassie Nichols, Rylan Coddington, Aleia Price and Amber Gary; and numerous great-grandchildren.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, Navy military honors will begin at 3 p.m. at the Spence-Miller Funeral Home, 2697 Columbus St., Grove City. Visitation will follow until time of funeral at 7 p.m. Pastor Laura Clark will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43215; or Capital Area Humane Society, 3015 Scioto Darby Executive Ct., Hilliard, Ohio 43026 in Jim’s memory.
Online guest book at www.spencemillerfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
