James Donovan

James R. Donovan, 80, died at 6:32 a.m. March 12, 2008, at Lima Memorial Health System. He was born May 4, 1927, in Lima to E.A. ?Jumbo? and Beryl L. Jervis Donovan, who preceded him in death. He had been married to Marge Sargent Donovan, who survives in Cloverdale. Mr. Donovan retired in 1990 from maintenance and repair at Lima Senior High School. He had also been a foreman in maintenance and repair in the bridge department of the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 1, Lima, and had been a coke cleaner and worked in the electric shop at the Lima Refinery. He was a member of South Side Christian Church. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275, and its Military Order of Cooties Pup Tent 6, where he was the first five Starseam Squirrel. He has also served as commander of District 1, Grand of Ohio MOC. He was a member of Garrett Wykoff Lodge 585 Free & Accepted Masons, the Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Dayton, AARP, the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130. He had been a member of American Legion Post 96 and OAPSE/AFSCME-AFL-CIO Local 137. He was a graduate of Lima South High School. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving from June 6, 1944, to June 6, 1946, as a Gunners Mate 3rd Class aboard the LCS(L) 122 at Okinawa. He received the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. The captain of his ship was awarded the Medal of Honor at Okinawa. He played fast-pitch softball for more than 20 years in the Lima area. He was a fan of Lima Senior High School, Perry High School and the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. He was a Harry Truman Democrat. He loved and cared for his children, their children and his great-grandchildren. He liked to fish, play golf and grow big tomatoes. He loved to agitate his barber and enjoyed seeing his friends at the Imperial Caf?. He loved life. Survivors also include six children, Patsy (Archie) Anderson, of Cape Carteret, N.C., Jennifer Donovan, of Spencerville, Sue Donovan, of Lima, James R. ?Jim? Donovan Jr., of Cloverdale, Jeff Donovan, of Lima, and Christine (Jeff) Stemen, of Virginia Beach, Va.; a sister, Pat (Dick) Ridenour, of Lima; and 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathy (John) Eickholt; a daughter-in-law, Pam Donovan; two brothers, Robert and Richard Donovan; and a grandson, Frederic Goedde. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Wanda Werking will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 8445. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor?s choice or the Veterans Food Pantry. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.