James R. Thaler's Obituary
James Thaler Obituary
James R.Jim ThalerJames (Jim) R. Thaler, 80, died July 1, 2015. Born Christmas Day 1934 in Wilson, New York, Jim was the son of Ida and Clarence Thaler, brother to Donald and Philip (deceased) and is survived by brother Glenn (Doreen). Jim is also survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Joyce Ann (Macy) and treasured son John (Carol), cherished grandchildren Lauren (Noah) and Jeffrey. In 1975, Jim donated a kidney to his son Jeffrey Michael who lost his battle with renal disease in 1981. Brothers and sisters-in-law Ron & Ella Macy, Bob & Eunice Macy, Dan & Sue Macy, Jan Thaler, Pat Thaler, and numerous and much-loved nieces and nephews filled his heart. He loved visiting Tavistock, Ontario to visit his Aunt Frances, sister to his mother Ida, and his cousin Bev. Jim graduated from Riverside High School in Painesville, Ohio, attended Ohio Wesleyan University and ultimately graduated from the Indiana Institute of Technology. He served in the US Navy and spent many years working for Magnavox and Philco Ford in Tennessee and Philadelphia, PA. In Gallipolis, Ohio, in partnership with his brother Don, Jim ran the Thaler Ford, Lincoln, Mercury car dealership. Jim served as Senior Vice President for Invacare Corporation in Elyria, Ohio for 16 years until his retirement. He was a long-time volunteer for the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary during Jim and Joyces winters in Florida. Married to his high school sweetheart Joyce, since1954, they moved 22 times with Jims military service and growth in his professional career. The man who hated yard work, painting and wallpapering married the interior designer who always managed to coax him into helping her with the projects that came with each move. Jims generous spirit and shrewd business mind was a welcome addition to the governing boards of MedMark Technologies, First United Methodist Church in Elyria, Wesleyan Village, Lorain County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services and NPL Homecare. He was active in every community in which he lived and was a member of Morning Dawn Lodge #7 F.& A.M. , Gallipolis; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus and Aladdin Temple Shrine, Columbus.For fun, Jim restored Cushman Scooters and many Memorial Day Parades you could find Jim with his grandson Jeff in the sidecar throwing candy to Elyria kids. He loved cars and restoring old cars including a 1955 Thunderbird and a Nash Metropolitan. At one time, he was a pilot and rebuilt a plane in the family garage which he later flew. He kept up with the latest trends in technology. His I-pod was filled with all kinds of music from Frank Sinatra to Avenue Q. Many mornings you would find Jim on the golf course. In 1990, he won the Spring Valley Club Championship. When she was little, he accidentally taught his granddaughter Lauren how to swear at other drivers on the road. Great friends in Ohio and Florida enriched his life in so many ways. For everyone that sought his council he was famous for telling you exactly what he thought without any sugarcoating, although he loved good chocolate and the folks at Susan Ls Chocolates in Elyria knew his order by heart. The staff of NPL will certainly miss his daily office visits where he offered advice, a joke or encouragement as he searched for chocolates. He taught us all not to worry to work the problems as they arise, to be ever mindful of those in need and to be generous with your love. As you go through life make this your goal, look for the doughnut and not the hole. Monday, July 6, 2015 at 11:00 A.M Elyria Chapter #787 will conduct a masonic service at First United Methodist Church, 312 Third St., Elyria followed by a celebration of Jims life with Reverend Dalton D. Love officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Lane, Sandusky, OH 44807.Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.comTo appear in Saturdays papers C.T. & P.D. w/ photo.D. Dicken440-322-3224
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