Joseph B. Quatman

Joseph B. Quatman, 94, died at 1:15 p.m. Jan. 14, 2011, at Lima Convalescent Home. He was born Aug. 12, 1916, in Buffalo, N.Y., to George B. and Gertrude Minnigan Quatman, who preceded him in death. On Jan. 10, 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Hemm, who died Jan. 19, 1993. He married Sally Becker, of Miami Beach, Fla., in 1994, who died Oct. 18, 2010. They resided in Highland Beach, Fla., for 16 years. Mr. Quatman attended grammar and high school at Holy Angels Parish, Sidney. He graduated from the University of Dayton in 1938 and Case Western Reserve Law School in 1941. He taught law at Ohio Northern University from 1946 to 1948. Mr. Quatman served as a special agent in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps in World War II in Europe from 1943 to 1945. He landed at Omaha Beach and participated in the Bastogne, Belgium, "Battle of the Bulge." Following the war, he returned to Lima and went into the private practice of law while representing Lima Telephone and Telegraph Co. He was also a candidate for Congress and was defeated in a close race by the late William McCullough. He was appointed by then Gov. and late U.S. Sen. Frank J. Lauche as judge of the Allen County Probate and Juvenile Court from 1951 to 1954. While thus serving, the governor appointed him to the 3rd District Court of Appeals to fill a vacancy due to the death of Judge Charles Guernsey Sr., and he was elected to complete his term. He was then the youngest appellate judge in the state of Ohio, serving from 1955 to 1957. Mr. Quatman was very active in community affairs, serving on numerous boards. Along with the late Easter Straker, he was instrumental in the establishment of the school for handicapped children, Robin Rogers, and remained on the board until after the construction of the renamed Marimor facility. He was a past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, past president of the Lima Sertoma Club, past president of the Allen County Bar Association and past vice president of the Ohio State Probate Judge Association. Mr. Quatman was past chairman of the board of the National Counter Intelligence Corps Association. He served as vice president of the University of Dayton Alumni Association. Mr. Quatman was a member of the Shawnee Country Club and Lima Elks Club. He was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Sidney Lehman High School Hall of Fame. Mr. Quatman was a member of St. Charles Parish, Lima, and St. Lucy's Parish, Highland Beach, Fla. Mr. Quatman served as president of a family foundation created by his father to partially restore and preserve ancient Christian shrines in Ephesus, Turkey, to include the great burial site of the Apostle St. John and the last home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In that capacity, he made 21 trips to Ephesus, Turkey. He was privileged to have a private audience with the late Pope Pius XII, Paul VI and John Paul II. Mr. Quatman enjoyed hunting, fishing and travel. He was an avid automobile/RV enthusiast. He sponsored the annual Fourth of July "Timbleton" tennis tournament for his family and friends that included fireworks and festivities. Survivors include seven children, Judy Klepper, Jacqueline (James) Wade, George B. Quatman III, Timothy Quatman, Joseph (Lisa) Quatman, Jon (Barb) Quatman, Steven Quatman; and 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynn St. Clair Barrie; and four brothers, Frank, Philip "Gus," George, and John "Jack" Quatman. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Catholic Church. Burial will be Tuesday in Graceland Cemetery, Sidney. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, Shawnee Chapel, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church, Lima Central Catholic High School or the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 2500 Ada Road, Lima, OH 45801.