Obituary for Gene C. James

Funeral services for Gene C. James will begin at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Trinity United Presbyterian Church where visitation to be held from 9:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will follow in Grove Cemetery. Mr. James passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025 surrounded by his loving family,

Gene was born at the family home on November 20, 1929 to Park and Helen (Wallingford) McKenna James. On July 11th, 1948 He married Margaret M. Shroyer of Ridgeway and she passed away on January 7th, 2018.

He is survived by a sister Sherry Edwards (Indianapolis, IN), two sisters-in-law, Mary Ann James (Kenton), Lois Ann Shroyer (Springfield), two sons Kerry (Jane Wyant) Kenton and Keith (Columbus) and a daughter Vicki of Kenton, (Walter Broseke) (Stephen Phillips). Also surviving are 10 grandchildren; Matthew James, Brian James, Jennifer Tompos, Kelly Buxton, Kimberly Fay, Jina Kearns, Benjamin Broseke, Bethany Broseke, Rebekah Kellogg and Daniel Broseke, 27 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. His father, mother, a brother Lauren, a son Randall, a son-in-law (Walter Broseke III) and a great-grandchild Karter Patrick Fay preceded him in death.

He graduated from Ridgeway Public School and Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He worked for his father for 5 years as a truck driver then went to Timken Detroit Axle for 5 years. He worked as an electrician, wiring many houses, businesses and churches in the Hardin County area. He worked as an electrician, foreman, master mechanic, and project implementer while at Occidental Chemical Corp. He retired from Occidental Chemical after 45 years of work.

He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Webelos leader, Cub Master of Pack 121, Assistant District Commissioner for Hardin County, on the troop committee of Troop 122 for 11 years and the Order of the Arrow at Camp Berry. He worked in 4-H as a Club Advisor to the Forest-Jackson Co-Ops and the Hilltoppers of Kenton, for 11 Years.

He was a long-time member of Trinity United Presbyterian Church where he served as Sunday School Teacher, Trustee and elder. He attended the Maumee Valley Presbytery and served as the chair of the Mission Committee for a number of years. He attended the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in 1958 at Pittsburg where the United Presbyterian and the Presbyterian Church of USA united and formed The Presbyterian Church USA. He was the Delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly in Orlando, Florida in 1993.

He and Margaret liked to travel in their motor homes and visited all of the 48 continental United States except Alaska. They were active in the Nomads camping group for many years. He had a good life with the love of his life, his wife Margaret for 69 1/2 years.

Memorials may be made to the Trinity United Presbyterian Church or the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are being handled by the Schindewolf-Stout-Crates Funeral Home. Online condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting stoutcrates.com.