James Richard (Jim) Wall

James Richard (Jim) Wall, 89, passed away at Blanchard Valley Hospital on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, after a brief bout with the Covid virus. Jim was born October 15, 1931, to Victor and Addie Wall in Carthage, Ohio. After High School Jim graduated from University of Cincinnati in 1954. He then got a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State College and pursued his Doctorate at the University of Michigan. While at the University of Cincinnati he met and fell in love with Patricia Ann Robertson. They dated for three years and were married in August 1953 and remained so for 65 years, until Pat's passing in 2018. Jim and Pat had two children, Martin (1956) and Deborah (1958). Both children passed at a very young age, Martin in 1983 by his own hand, and Deborah in 1990 from ovarian cancer. Jim and Pat never fully recovered from these tragedies. Jim joined Marathon Oil Company in 1958 at the Detroit Refinery. He then transferred to the head office in Findlay, Ohio, helping to start the Operations Research Department. In 1966, Jim and Pat and the children moved to Burghausen, West Germany, for two years while Jim set up control computer systems for a refinery which Marathon was building there. In 1980 Jim and Pat, without children, moved to London for five years working on computer systems to support offshore drilling in the North Sea. Jim was a man with many interests and hobbies. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Findlay Country Club, where he enjoyed playing tennis and golf and dining with friends. His hobbies included his wood-working shop, ham radio, photography and mountain climbing. He collected rare and first-edition books and brought back many art pieces from their stay in London. Jim enjoyed flying his airplane to visit friends and to take the family on vacations. Jim was a major contributor to the Marathon Performing Arts Center. Jim was predeceased by his parents, wife and children. He is survived by many nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Visitation will be held at Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, 500 Lima Avenue, Findlay, Ohio 45840 from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, followed by a private family graveside service at Maple Grove Cemetery with Deacon Dave Gerardi officiating. Online condolences may be sent via www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com