James Marshall, 80, Owned & Operated Auto Parts Stores
James J. Marshall, 80, of Lorain, died Sunday May 15, 2011 at Anchor Lodge Nursing Home in Lorain after a long illness.
He was born February 15, 1931 in Lorain and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.
Jim graduated from Lorain High School in 1949. He served with the US Navy during the Korean War as an Electrician’s Mate First Class aboard the USS Vogelgesang where he ran an electrical gang on the ship. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Occupation Medal.
Jim started working with his father Alford in a beverage distributorship and the family gas station in Sheffield Township. He later started ABC Wholesale Auto Parts and then turned the family gas station into Al, Lou & Jim’s Auto Parts. That was later expanded to A-1 Car Parts in Elyria and A-1 Car Parts II in Avon. Jim retired in 1995 after 40 years in the business.
He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Lorain and a past member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain.
Jim had a twinkle in his eye and a zest for life. He enjoyed having beach and deck parties at his home, motorcycle riding, traveling, fishing, hunting and dining out. He was always willing and ready to help family and friends. His favorite saying was “I’m so good, it’s hard to believe.”
He is survived by his wife of 59 years Ann (nee Poltrone), children Chris Marshall (fiancé Shelia Davies) of Lakewood, Dr. Mark Marshall (Marcelle) of Lorain, Kathy (Mike) Dziat of Wakeman and Louie (Nikki) Rosso of South Amherst, grandchildren Ian, Jordan and Alexandra Dziat, Christina Tran (Minh), Jessica Waite, Michael Rosso and Macy Rosso, great granddaughter Giulianna Lei-Yen Tran and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Alford and Anna Marshall (nee Lisicky) and sister Evelyn Bozich (Louis).
The family will receive friends Tuesday 4-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain and on Wednesday from 10:00 am until the time of the mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain. The Rev. Richard Hudak, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain where the Disabled American Veterans Louis Paul Proy Chapter #20 of Lorain will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Plaza, Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.