Betty James

JAMES Betty F. James, age 95, of Hilliard, formerly of Worthington, passed away on Feb. 21, 2018, at The Sanctuary at Tuttle Crossing, Dublin, surrounded by members of her loving family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years Harold O. James, parents William and Nina (Clark) Fulwider, sisters Phyllis Fulwider and L. Frances Barbee, brother-in-law Frank Barbee, and step-grandson Christopher Theil. She is survived by brother William (Pat) Fulwider Jr., sons Craig (Barbara) James and Jeffrey James, daughters Janice James and Kimberly (Gary) Theil, grandsons Nathaniel (Schauna) James and Jeffrey R. (Lisa) James, granddaughter Tiffany (Rick Martin) James, step-granddaughter Lauren (Rob) Kuhn, great-grandsons Tyler and Thor Martin, Riley James and Jackson “J.J.” James, sister-in-law Barbara (Ron) Starkey, special niece Karen (Frank) Juodvalkis, and numerous other nephews and nieces. Born in Columbus Jan. 12, 1923, Betty moved with her family in 1930 to the small town of Philo, Ohio, which her mother thought at first was “the end of the earth.” Water had to be carried home from the town square in the beginning, and Betty and her siblings caught scarlet fever. Her fondest memories growing up were of spending summers with cousin Lois McNally at her great-aunt Laura’s in New Vienna, Ohio. Betty graduated in 1941 from Philo High School, where she played basketball and the trombone. After graduation, she worked at the Red and White store on the corner, then at the Ohio Power plant, and served as a volunteer nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville. Betty moved to Columbus with her friend Marge and worked at The Ohio State University Registrar’s Office. Betty first met her future husband, Harold James, on a double date. Harold actually was Marge’s date on this one occasion, but Betty liked him, then spent a long time trying to find out where he lived. The delay was mostly because she thought his last name was Jamison. But one day, while she stood on a corner waiting for the bus, Harold drove by in a small truck and stopped. She gave him her telephone number, and he sent her a dozen red roses. They married on July 10, 1949, and had four children. Betty and Harold were longtime members of Indianola Church of Christ, where she sang in the choir. Betty was a founding member of Worthington Songsters and Madrigals. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and had a great personality and sense of humor. As she lived into her nineties, she remarked once, when asked how she was, “I’m all right, except for what’s wrong.” Betty was an avid piano and Yatzee player (as well as poker and bingo at Sanctuary), and loved sweets, reading books and The Columbus Dispatch, and doing crossword puzzles. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Sunday, and 10-11 a.m., Monday, at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, where the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Pastor Mike Richardson officiating. Interment will be immediately afterward at Union Cemetery. Betty’s family would like to thank the staff members of Sanctuary and Capital City Hospice for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Indianola Church of Christ. In recognition of Betty’s love of the football Buckeyes, visitors are welcome to wear OSU apparel.

Betty James

January 12, 1923 - February 21, 2018