James Robert Stanford, 83, of Chillicothe passed away peacefully on Friday, October 21, 2016 after a lengthy illness. Jim was born August 5, 1933, in Waverly, the son of the late Clara (Frey) Neely and the late Robert Stanford. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1952 and attended Ohio University and Capital University. On December 18, 1955 he married Elizabeth Anne Miller in Chillicothe, Ohio.

   Surviving are his wife Elizabeth; daughter and son-in-law Jamie Raye and Christopher Matthew Albert; sisters Amey Van Voorhis and Emily (Steve) Nelson; cousins Ruth Campbell, Sharon (Don) Manson, Diane Smith; nieces Jane (Matt) Salyers, Ann Van Voorhis and Susan (Don) Scott; and nephews Bill and Brian Nelson. He was preceded in death by his mother Clara and stepfather Tom Neely; brother-in-law Bill Van Voorhis; cousin Robert Frey; and niece Trena Van Voorhis.

Jim managed regional shopping malls in Marion and Columbus, including the opening of Huntington Mall in Barboursville, WV. Earlier in life he managed the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, directed Pickaway County Community Action, and worked at the Chillicothe Gazette. He served as a medic in the Army during the Korean War and was a proud, lifelong Democrat. Jim was a gifted artist who enjoyed reading, watching college football and westerns, collecting antiques and ephemera, and restoring antique cars. He co-founded the Antique Car Club of Southern Ohio and was a former member of the Rolls Royce Owners Club. Jim never knew a stranger; he was thoughtful, caring, funny and a friend to all.

Services will be held at 1pm, Thursday, October 27 at the Fawcett Oliver Glass and Palmer Funeral Home in Chillicothe, with the Rev. Jim Grove officiating. A gathering will follow at the Governor’s Place Clubhouse on St. Clair Drive. Online condolences can be left at www.fawcett-palmer.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Ross County Humane Society www.rosscountyhumanesociety.org 

 Service Information