James Pontius

VAN WERT, Ohio - James Howard "Too Tall" Pontius, 81, of Van Wert, died at 12:01 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at Inpatient Hospice Center, Van Wert.

He was born July 3, 1930, in Jackson, Mich., to the late Dorothy (Scott) Pontius and William Pontius. His wife, Jean (Goodwin) Pontius, survives in Van Wert.

Other survivors include his children: Ginger (Brent) Heyneman of Strongsville, Ohio, James E. (Shelley) Pontius of Dublin, Ohio, and Tamre (Michael) Hileman of Rockford, Ohio; one brother: William Pontius of Celina, Ohio; a sister-in-law: Mary Lou Goodwin of Van Wert; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

He retired from the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, Lima, Ohio. He had also co-owned and operated Pontius Hardware, Rockford, Ohio. He was a member of the former Rockford Presbyterian Church, Rockford. He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War where he achieved the rank of corporal. He was a life member of Van Wert VFW Post 5803, a member of Van Wert American Legion Post 178, Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, Van Wert Shrine Club, Rockford Eagles Aerie 1292, and a 60-year member of the Shanes Lodge 377 F. & A. M. in Rockford. He was also past president of the former Rockford Building and Loan.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 14 at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert. The Rev. Paul Miller will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Friends may call from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday, May 14 at the funeral home.

Preferred memorial is Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.