James Glenmore Dean received his well deserved rest in heaven after 96 years on earth, serving his Lord, his family, his community and his country. On April 21, 2018, surrounded by loved ones in his home, he joined his devoted wife Sara, and sons Jimmy and Roger, where they will enjoy eternity together. Born January 11, 1922 in Delaware, Ohio, he was the eldest son of Helen (Wilson) and Lester Glenmore Dean.
James married Sara Elizabeth Sommers on June 29, 1946 in Urbana, Ohio and they celebrated 67 anniversaries before Sara went to heaven in 2013. James was a 1943 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Horticulture and was commissioned through ROTC as a 2nd Lieutenant. He served in the U.S. Army Artillery during World War II, in the European theater, flying 70 combat missions with the 5th Armored Division as a Field Artillery Scout and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
He was recalled to active duty in support of the Korean War to train pilots in Field Artillery. James was a true entrepreneur. He ran the Dean Apple Orchard in addition to assisting his father with Grand River Orchard which he later owned.
He was also instrumental in the Old Orchard Drive subdivision which started his second and longest career as a contractor and owner of Steepleridge Builders, Inc., building homes and commercial buildings in and around the Geneva area. He completed his last project when he was 85 years old. He loved his church, First Geneva United Methodist, and was a member there for 81 years where he served as an adult Sunday School teacher as well as on many committees including Trustees, Finance and the Building Committee.
Community service was also important to him. He served for 6 years on the Geneva Area City School Board and was a member of Rotary International for over 25 years and a past president. He helped organize the Ashtabula County Builders Association and served 18 terms on the Ashtabula County Planning Commission, including 4 years as Chairman.
James also helped organize and served as president of the Geneva Area YMCA/YWCA and was on the Board of Directors of United Appeal for 5 years. He was a life member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society and a member of Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honors. James will be be remembered for his honesty, generosity, hard work and can-do spirit.
He loved his family and his country and believed in serving God and others above self. He is survived by his daughters, Mary Helen (Charles) Tipton of Streetsboro, Ohio and Jeanette Kay (Louis) DeJesus of Geneva, Ohio; sons, Dennis Wilson (Elizabeth) Dean of Lebanon, Tenn. and Douglas Duncan (Shannon) Dean of Geneva, Ohio; 15 Grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; sisters, Virginia Varian of East Canton, Ohio, Barbara Warner of Ithaca, New York and Janice Crittenden of Cape Coral, Florida.
He was preceded in death by; his parents, wife Sara; sons Roger Thomas and James David; and siblings Winifred Elam and David Dean. Friends will be received from 1 to 2 pm, Saturday, May 5, 2018, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 pm at Geneva United Methodist Church, 89 South Broadway, Geneva with the Rev. Bruce Hitchcock officiating.
Burial will be at Harpersfield Cemetery Should friends desire, contributions may be made to a memorial fund at the Geneva United Methodist Church. The Behm Family Funeral Home 175 South Broadway, Geneva, OH 44041 Friends may leave condolences online at www. behmfuneral.com To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of James Dean, please visit our Tribute Store.
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