James Garfield Ringley

James G. Ringley
January 27, 1932-May1, 2025
Jim "Cas" Ringley left this Earth May 1st to be with his Heavenly Father.
He was born James G. Ringley on January 27, 1932, in Three Point, Harlan County KY to Lewis Cass Ringley and Evalene Gailey Ringley. He is survived by his wife of sixty eight years, Helen Dixon Ringley; four children, Tony Ringley and Kimberly Ringley of Lexington KY, Sherri Benick of Bellville Ohio, and Timothy (Teresa) Ringley of Jefferson GA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Brian (Liv Stratman) Ringley of Long Island NY, Justin (Stefanie) Ringley of Columbus OH, Hunter (Stephanie) Benick and Spencer Benick of Bellville OH and two great grandchildren, Caspian and Novalie Benick. He is also survived by two sisters, Helen Farley of Iberia OH and Frances Householder of Galion OH. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
Following his high school graduation, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as an aircraft mechanic in the Korean War. His service took this country boy from the hollers of Harlan County to San Antonio TX, Tsuiki, Japan, Amarillo TX, and South Dakota.
After his service he returned for a time to Harlan County, where, one day, at Denny Ray's in Harlan, he met a pretty waitress named Helen and they took a shine to each other. They married on February 10th, 1957, and moved to Galion OH. He was employed at the GM Fisher Body plant in Ontario where he worked until his retirement in 1987.
On retiring from Fisher Body, he, Helen, and Kimberly moved to Lexington. Jim became deeply involved in the Committee of the 101, where he worked tirelessly at many UK sporting events, and delighted in rubbing shoulders with many celebrities.
In his later years he enjoyed golfing and fishing, rereading his Louis L' Amour westerns and he especially enjoyed going to garage sales where nothing gave him greater joy than striking a good bargain.
Above all, Jim was an enjoyer of life. He loved people and with a few questionable exceptions, they loved him right back. He loved a good time and was always a fierce competitor who loved to win, whether it was bowling, golf, basketball, cards, or Monopoly, where it was suspected that he sometimes bent the rules.
He was also, from 2006, a dedicated member of the Man-O-War Church of God, where he took great pleasure in being a greeter nearly every Sunday, where his warm personality made him friends from the oldest parishioner to the youngest child.
These last few months, he also expressed his affection and gratitude for the nurses and aides who helped him in a difficult time and, because of his own warmth and gratitude, that affection was returned.
He will be missed by his many friends and, especially, by his family, who will no longer get to have his presence in their lives.
So long, Dad!