James F. Dearth Jr.

James F. Dearth Jr. of 71, of Wadsworth, died Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at his home after a lengthy illness. Jim was born January 15, 1953 in New Martinsville, West Virginia to James F. Sr. and Norma Jean (nee Sprouse) Dearth. He married Renae Casto-Dearth in 2020. 

Jim started working at his father’s Sohio gas station in Seville at the age of 16. He then worked for Morton Salt in Rittman for the next 45 years. At Morton Salt Jim was a shipping & receiving supervisor and worked on many projects. He was the “top brass right hand man” and could do anything. There is a building at the Morton Salt factory named after Jim called “The Dearth Dome.”

Jim had an extreme passion for cars owning more than 100 in his lifetime. Buying and restoring cars was one of his favorite things to do. He loved watching NASCAR, playing guitar (he was in a band in his younger days), and playing pool (he had his own pool table so he was quite the pool shark). Jim was a good, kindhearted man who extended a helping hand for anybody in need. Everybody loved Jim, he was likeable, lovable and everyone’s friend. He loved all of his family and basically everybody he met.

Jim will be deeply missed by his wife Renae of Wadsworth; children Patricia (David) Beery of Wooster and Christina (Keith) Johnson of Canton; step-children Michael Benson of Seville, Jeff (Jessica) Benson of North Carolina, and Aaron Casto of Columbus; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; parents Jim Sr. and Jean Dearth of Seville; brothers Bob (Karla) Dearth of Virginia, Chris (Sandy) Dearth of Seville, and sisters Anna (John) Cesario of California, Linda (James) Cobb of Texas, Rebecca (Chuck) Shipe of Seville, Kimberla Roadarmel of Canton and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his previous wife Carolyn S. Dearth, and grandson Mikey Benson.

Funeral services will be held Monday August 12 at 1 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Hillcrest Chapel, Seville. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens .