James Andrew "Jim" Yamber

James Andrew "Jim" Yamber, 79, of Oakdale, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 23, 2025 in his home.
Jim was born on December 23, 1945 in Oakdale a son of the late Andrew and Sarah Elizabeth Wasson Yamber.
Surviving is a special cousin Patty (Cliff) Kropf along with many more cousins and friends.
A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11 am at Robinson Run Cemetery, McDonald.
Below is an article written about Mr. Yamber in 2023, detailing what a wonderful and unique man he was.
The Heart of the Society – Jim Yamber
By Pam Horter-Moore
Every organization has a person whom everybody knows, who gets things done, who spreads the word, a go-between when others seek resources and information.
In OSWP, that person is Jim Yamber. Since his joining in 1973, the society has counted on him using his considerable gifts and expertise to implement the layout of our Orchid Show, produce our newsletter act as spokesperson, and fill as needed.
He has served in every office but the presidency. It isn't an exaggeration to state that we would be a much smaller, less successful organization without his long years of dedication and input.
Much has been said about the esteem with which Jim is held within the orchid world, so, for this article I would lie to spotlight some of his other accomplishments.
When I interviewed Jim, I discovered several themes running through his life that I believe can be attributed to his family background, which instilled in him a strong foundation of self-sufficiency, innovation intellectual curiosity, and hard work.
In many ways Jim's story starts before he was born in North Fayette Township on the adjoining farms where his parents Andy and Sarah were raised. The young couple spent their early years of marriage living on the farm of Sarah's grandparents. This was where Jim's older sister Lila Mae was born.
Jim's Scottish, German, and Hungarian roots taught him the value of ingenuity and resilience that served the family well. Jim still lives in the home his parents built. "My mother dug out the corners of the foundation herself with pick and shovel." Jim comments.
A lifelong Oakdale resident, Jim is a graduate of the West Allegheny School District. This was here in elementary school where Miss Bozel discovered his musical gifts, and appointed him conductor of the school band. Jim continued to be active in the performing arts all through high school, participating in the county, Regional, and State Choirs where he gave solo vocal performances.
After high school, Jim's versatility made it difficult for him to decide on a single field of study. He was drawn to architecture and biology, but also to the ministry. That led him to Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) in Springfield.
"I didn't go home for Thanksgiving that year, so I cooked turkey dinner and made pumpkin pie from scratch," Jim says. His college friends and their parents love it. "They told me it was worth the drive just for the pie," he jokes.
It as characteristic of Jim, his sister, and their parents to do for themselves rather than do without. They worked as a family unit, helping each other in whatever capacity they could. "Whoever got home first started the cooking," Jim says.
Jim's mother Sarah was dietician for West Allegheny Schools, serving over three thousand children. Jim's father Andy was a coalminer and construction worker as a school janitor and as a cook at a small restaurant when business was slow. There were no idle hands in the family.
In 1967, Jim interrupted his academic career and enlisted in the Navy to learn electronics. While in the Navy, his singing brought him distinction as a member of the celebrated Bluejacket Choir, an honored tradition for over 100 years.
After training at NSA Mid-South near Memphis, Jim was assigned to the Naval Air Station Pint Mugu in California. This site is distinguished as the Navy's major base for missile development and testing. Jim was especially good at calculating where the missiles would hit.
One of Jim's most devasting insights cam aboard the USS Oriskiny, an aircraft carrier. "You would be surprised how often people are killed on these carries, due to the danger of moving planes," Jim explains. As a case in point, on October 26, 1966, a fire erupted on the starboard side of this ship's forward hangar bay and raced through five decks, killing 44 men.
In 1972, Jim returned home and received an associate's degree in drafting from Triangle Tech; he already possessed the equivalency of an academic degree in electronics through his naval training. He worked successively for Houser-Karpis, Acres Company, and Larsen and Ludwig, engineering and heavy construction firms. As field engineer, he was sent to Detroit on temporary assignment to oversee the production of metallurgical coke in a continuous oven.
A self-starter, Jim was an early adventure into the filed of information technology. In 1984, he purchased an IBM PC AT ("it had 256kb," Jim recalls). He also taught himself AutoCAD, the very edge of computer drafting in 1982.
Jim's experiences dovetailed into his first teaching job while still at Triangle Tech. The sisters at St. Basel High School were desperately asking for help controlling their unruly youngsters. Several of Jim's students would continue their education.
Jim discovered that teaching was was a good buffer against an unstable economy. He taught drafting and AutoCAD at CCAC while working at Larsen and Ludwig, and continued to teach two years after Larsen and Ludwig closed.
His length interview with ITT Technical evolved into a 20-year commitment teaching drafting, architectural and civil drafting, HVAC, and physics, eventually serving as Director of the Drafting Department. His students remember him as an excellent, but demanding, instructor.
While teaching, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Point Par. "Most of the time, graduates in Journalism receive a Bachelor of Arts," Jim comments. "However, I was different, since I was the computer tech for the software (QUARK) that they used."
Through the years, the four Yambers – Andy, Sarah, Lila Mae, and Jim – were friends as well as family, vacationing together, camping at Lake Erie, and pitching in with the cooking at the school when special events such as teachers' conferences were planned. "All the teachers wanted to eat at West Allegheny, because of its reputation for having the best food," Jim Says. He once helped his mother cook Bakes Alaska for 500 people.
The close-knit family also shared and supported each other's interests; Jim, his mother, and sister pursued the fabric arts.
"While in Springfield, Missouri, I attended an Early American arts and crafts fair that whetted my interest in weaving, so I designed my own jack loom." (A jack loom is a floor model operated by foot treadles connected to a set of shafts) Later, sister Lila bought him a Mighty Wolf jack loom. As the Cadillac of looms, these models cost thousands of dollars.
The tie between brother and sister was well known to everyone who knew them. While Lila traveled in her job as marketing manager for Westinghouse Credit Union, Jim went to her classes and took notes for her. They were each other's backup.
Through the years, Jim's sister was at his side as the silent editor of the OSWP Newsletter. Her death last November motivated Jim to retire from his decades-long role. Lila Mae's obituary says, "Lila loved to cook and care for her best friend and brother, James Yamber, who survives. They enjoyed spending their lives together.
Jim looks forward to a trip to Erie in April 2024 to photograph the total eclipse of the sun. H has just acquired a special lens in anticipation.
He will also continue his role as interim preacher for the Noblestown United Presbyterian Church. Established in 1792, the church has been an integral part of the Yamber family. His experience as a speaker and deep knowledge of the Bible have exposed the congregation to a greater understanding of Judeo-Christian traditions.
Although Jim is pulling back form his role as OSWP Newsletter editor, he will continue to be a mighty force within the Society, as well as a good friend to everyone.