Jack Witham

Jack G. Witham, 84, died at 7:45 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009, at Lost Creek Care Center. He was born Dec. 13, 1924, in Lima to William and Amy Miller Witham, who preceded him death. In 1943, he married Naomi Shrider, who died in 1960. In 1961, he married Rose Marie ?Rosie? Roby , who survives. Mr. Witham was a 1943 graduate of Lafayette Jackson High School. He was a Navy veteran serving from 1943 to 1946. He retired as a tool designer in the tool and die area of Westinghouse Electric Corp., after 37 years. Following his retirement he taught at Lima Technical College for four years. He was a longtime member of Lafayette Evangelical Lutheran Church and attended Shawnee United Methodist Church with his wife. He was a member of Lodge 205 Free & Accepted Masons, a former member of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks for 50 years, and a member of the Foreign Legion. Survivors include a son, Jack L. ?Jerri? Witham, of Lima; a daughter, Cynthia (Mike) Fox, of Cridersville; three grandchildren, Jan Smith, of Spencerville, Naomi (Scott) Welborn, of Troy, Mich., and Cale W. Witham, of Appleton, Wis.; two great-grandchildren, Anya Welborn and Connor Welborn; three stepchildren, John (Deb) Roby and Karen Roby (Jerry) Shaw, both of Lima, and Joyce (Larry) Leeder, of Los Gatos, Calif.; seven stepgrandchildren, Matt Roby, of Lima, Angie Roby (Josh) Lavey, of Findlay, Heather Roby (Joe) Fetrow, of Mason, Ashley Roby (Charlie) Schreiber, of Charleston, S.C., Joe (Kelly) Shaw, of Lima, Katie Shaw (Fabricio) Powell, of Las Vegas, and Zack Belanger, of Los Gatos, Calif.; 14 stepgreat-grandchildren, Tori Shaw, Darian Shaw, Noah Shaw, Xavier Powell, Jared Powell, Taylor Lavey, Alex Lavey, Jacob Lavey, Isaiah Roby, Tate Fetrow, Sammy Fetrow, Haley Schreiber, Cole Schreiber and Carter Schreiber; and a sister, Patricia Hindman, of Lebanon. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Revs. Bryan Bucher and Larry Trever will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in support of a food bank, the Salvation Army or the Lima Rescue Mission. His wife would like to thank so many special people and the Lost Creek Care Center for the love and care they gave him and for the support she received. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.