James Dale Rhamey

Jim lived his life on his own terms, starting with his birth at his parent’s dairy farm in Lakeville, OH, when he arrived before the doctor did. It did not take him long to achieve local notoriety. Not yet four years old, he had gone with his Dad to help friends build a barn. Like most toddlers, he grew increasingly bored and had been promised candy when he got home. So he took off in search of home (which was miles away) on his own. The entire community was mobilized to find him and he ended up walking 4 miles through the woods at night, wearing holes in his baby shoes. The next morning a farmer found him sitting on his gate and asked him what his name was. The reply, “My name is Pistol Pete and I’m tougher than a groundhog!” set the tone for the rest of his life.

Jim graduated from Wooster College in Ohio, where he was a star athlete, lettering in several sports and was Captain of the basketball team. He was one of the most competitive people you could ever meet. Whether it was golf, tennis, poker, a fishing derby, or bridge, whatever the game, it was always called “Jim Wins” and usually, he did.

He married his college sweetheart, Marjorie (1933-1973) and served in the US Army, stationed in El Paso. After attending graduate school at Ohio State, Jim spent his business career in ultrasonics and nondestructive testing.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing for salmon and steelhead. Jim was affectionately given the nickname “Six Coats Rhamey” since many of these trips were to colder climates. He would freeze every time he left Texas and need to layer on the jackets.

Jim attributed his long life to “clean living”. This always produced a chuckle from those who knew he smoked a pipe, enjoyed his cocktails, and candy – that temptation that got him lost as a toddler, remained a staple of his diet his entire life.

Jim is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ginger, his sister Joan Piar, of Columbus, OH and a daughter, Melanie, in Longmont, CO. No services will be held, but Jim would love it if you would raise a glass and say, “Cheers, Jim, you did your way!”, because he did.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/irving-tx for the Rhamey family.