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James J. “Jim” Tromblay, 89, of Bellefontaine, passed away at 2:08 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at the Dayton VA Medical Center.
He was born in Tupper Lake, N.Y., on Feb. 11, 1929, to the late Patrick Joseph and Della Henry Tromblay. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Melinda Smith in 2016; and brothers, Robert, Donald, Peter and Paul.
On May 29, 1954, in Stanwood, Wash., he married the former Linda Landry and she survives.
He is also survived by his children, Michele Tromblay, Yvonne (Charles) Elias and their children, Adrienne (Rick) Krysiak and Steven Elias; Jean-Marie Arelt and her son, Paul Arelt; Joseph Tromblay; Jeffrey Tromblay and his son, David Tromblay; John (Michelle) Tromblay and their daughter, Kirsten Tromblay; Suzanne Tromblay; and his late daughter’s husband, Rick Smith and their children, Amanda, Mariah and Rachel Smith; his wife’s sister, Emmalie (Larry) Silvester; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Tromblay.
Jim graduated from Tupper Lake High School and at the age of 21, he enlisted in the Air Force to avoid being drafted by the Army and sent to Korea. Two weeks later, he received his draft notification from the Army and was grateful he didn’t have to go. Jim was a 20-year veteran of the U.S Air Force. He began his journey stationed in Seattle, Wash., at a governmental office, then Elemendorf AFB Alaska, to Cannon AFB New Mexico, to Incerlik AFB Turkey, then Keesler AFB Mississippi, to Ramstein AFB Germany, and finally the 664th A&W Squadron in Bellefontaine. The family arrived in Bellefontaine in 1967. Jim was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 and returned in 1969. He retired as a tech sergeant in 1970 after 20 years of service. After retirement, Jim worked for Rockwell International for 10 years until they closed. He would also repair sewing machines for Linda’s Sewing and Yarn Shop.
Jim was a 52-year member of St. Patrick Catholic Church where he served until recently as an usher and handled the parish recycling.
He loved God, his family, and his cat. Jim liked gardening, mowing grass, shoveling snow, yard sales, auctions and repairing and taking things apart.
A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 316 E. Patterson Ave.. Bellefontaine. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Bellefontaine with military honors provided by the Logan County Veteran’s Honor Guard.
Following the committal service, a meal will be served at St. Patrick Church, Makley Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church Building and Renovation Fund and St. Vincent De Paul Society, c/o St. Patrick Catholic Church, both mailed to 316 E. Patterson Ave., Bellefontaine, OH 43311.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.
Express condolences at www.edsfh.com.