James E. Greathouse, 79, of Pioneer passed away Saturday afternoon at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on April 16, 1936 in Princeton, West Virginia to Emmert and Ginath Mae (Lewis) Greathouse. James attended Milton High School in West Virginia. In 1954 he moved to Williams County to work on the Ohio / Indiana Turnpike. On November 27, 1955 he married Carma M. Stantz at the Madison Church of God in Montpelier. James proudly served his country in the United States Army for 8 years.
James retired from the ARO Corporation in Bryan in 1991 after 10 years as an electrician. He was the Chief of Police in Pioneer for six years and also volunteered on the Fire and EMS departments in Pioneer. At one time he was the co-owner and operator with his brother-in-law of J & R Electric in Pioneer.
After James retirement from ARO he moved to Winter Haven, Florida and managed CRF Retirement Communities with his wife.
James was a very Christian man and loved his Lord and Savior. He was a member of the Landmark Baptist Church in Haines, Florida. In James free time he enjoyed being on a Senior’s softball team, fishing and golfing.
James is survived by his wife of 59 years Carma of Pioneer; one son James D. Greathouse of Pioneer; three grandchildren Amanda (Kevin) Walter, Leah (Nate) Kerr and Thomas Greathouse; five great grandchildren; one brother David (Char) Greathouse of Montpelier; one sister D. Sue Williams of Ashland, Kentucky; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends Jack and Marcia Cornell of Athens, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons Emmert Mark and Glenn Alan Greathouse, one daughter Kelly Jo Greathouse, and six brothers Robert, John Gary, Frederick, Jerry, Michael, and an infant boy.
Visitation hours for James will be on Wednesday, June 10th from 5-8pm at the Thompson Funeral Home in Pioneer. Services will be on Thursday at 1pm at the funeral home with Mark McKinnley to officiate. Interment will follow at Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan with Military Honors provided by the V.F.W. in Bryan. Donations may be made to the Pioneer Volunteer Fire Department or Parkview Hospice in Ft. Wayne.
Online condolences can be left for the family at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.