James Bailey Obituary

James E. "Jim" Bailey

James E. "Jim" Bailey passed away Thursday, May 23, 2024, in the presence of loving family at Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo.

He was born Aug. 4, 1941, in Columbus, to George O. and Mary Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Bailey. He married Nancy Lou Self in 1967 in West Lafayette, Ohio, and they divorced. He then married Marcia Raye Cwik on April 3, 1982, at First Presbyterian Church, Fostoria, and she survives.

Jim is also survived by his sons, Erich (Jennifer) of Defiance and David (Michelle) of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; beloved grandchildren, Zachary, Jacob, Lauren, and Emma Bailey; and sister, Lois Bailey, of Westfield, Massachusetts.

While growing up in central Ohio, he lived on farms, cities, and towns, and attended public and parochial schools. Jim graduated from Westerville High School in 1959 and Ohio State University in 1964. He had a B.S. in education with a major in History and Government. He earned an M.A. in Political Science with majors in Political Theory and American Government from Kent State University in 1970. His special academic interest was democratic theory.

His life centered on family, friends, Christianity, education, and citizenship. From 1964-1995, he taught in six Ohio public school districts with the last 18 years being at Fostoria High School. Regardless of the subject, he challenged his students to ask five basic questions: what? so what? why? plusses and minuses? and how could it be different and/or better? He was also a coach and athletic director.

He was a head basketball coach for 17 years and specialized in turning losing programs into winning ones. His teams won league championships in baseball and basketball and district championships in basketball and track. He was Athletic Director at Fostoria High School from 1984-1995 where he was later elected into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He led fundraising efforts to build an all-weather track, an auxiliary football field, and to renovate Fostoria Memorial Stadium.

Jim had leadership positions in at least 30 entities having to do with education and/or children, the environment, peacemaking, church, the elderly, community service, and government. Typical of his involvement was Kiwanis where during his over 35 years of membership, he served as club President, Lt. Governor, and state Chairperson for Human and Spiritual Values. His organizational abilities were prominently displayed when he led community efforts to pass much needed tax levies in 1973 for Olentangy Local Schools and in 1997 for the City of Fostoria. In both instances, previous efforts to pass the crucial levies had failed numerous times.

After retirement in 1995, he was elected Mayor of Fostoria. Mayoral initiatives emphasized parks, recreation, environmental protection, property maintenance, beautification, fire protection, water and sewer line extensions, and community planning. After again retiring, his volunteer activities centered on grandchildren, parks, peacemaking, gardening, community, and church. After serving two three-year terms on the Board of the Seneca County Park District, he served six two-year terms as an officer of the Friends of the Seneca County Park District including four as President. Other volunteer activities for the Park District featured designing, planting, and maintaining flower and butterfly gardens.

He gave scores of talks on gardening, parks, peacemaking, the environment, and Israel/Palestine to community groups. He wrote a large number of letters to the editor and longer opinion columns to NW Ohio newspapers. His wife, Marcia, partnered with him in many of these efforts.

As a member of First Presbyterian Church of Fostoria, he was an Elder and longtime Deacon. He designed an adult education curriculum structure, represented the church in peacemaking activities, and did landscaping for the church.

He was proud of being a many gallon blood donor because he knew that giving blood usually had good outcomes. His fun activities included gardening, reading, walking, feeding and watching creatures, watching golf and college sports, playing golf, watching his grandkids' various games and cheering on their teams, and traveling in all 50 states, especially in the National Parks.

He wished to be remembered as an ordinary person who had good values and who tried to live by them. Contributions may be made to Kaubisch Memorial Library, First Presbyterian Church of Fostoria, Fostoria Kiwanis Club, or Tiffin Area Pax Christi Group.

Jim's memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Fostoria, with the Rev. Marie Louden-Hanes and the Rev. Robert Butcher officiating. Burial will follow at Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 12, 2024, at Harrold-Floriana Funeral Home, 301 W. Tiffin St., Fostoria.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hffh.net.