James Ullmer

James L. Ullmer

1930 - 2022

James L. Ullmer, 91, died peacefully at home after a brief illness surrounded by family on January 25, 2022. Jim was born on December 28, 1930 in Dayton, Ohio. He left home at age 17 to join the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War with the 7th Marines. He fought at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in November 1950 where temperatures reached -35 to -40 below zero with high winds. Jim survived that experience with frostbitten feet and gratitude for his life. He was a life-long and proud member of the Chosin Few, a group of veterans who survived that experience.

Jim settled in California after the war, vowing to never again live somewhere cold, and worked for Western Electric in the Los Angeles area. Jim married Patricia Rady of Huntington Park in 1952. They moved to Santa Maria in 1961. After working at Vandenberg Air Force Base for a few years, he transferred to Pacific Telephone in Santa Maria where he worked for 30 years. Following the breakup of AT&T, he was offered and took early retirement in 1988. He and Pat spent fifteen years traveling around the country visiting their children and grandchildren in Lancaster, California, Kentucky, and Minnesota. They were avid square dancers and traveled to almost every state, sightseeing and attending square dances. After Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Jim spent several years caring for her at home, then continued his devoted care after she was moved to a nursing home where he had lunch and dinner with her daily. Pat died in 2006.

Jim was lifetime member of the Santa Maria Elks, the telephone company Pioneers of America, and IBEW. He was a daily walker and a member of the Waller Park Marching Club.

Jim is survived by his four children, Virginia Wagoner (Reid) of Orcutt, California, Jim Ullmer, Jr. (Jeanne) of Crystal, Minnesota, Susan Thompson (Bill) of Mt. Washington, Kentucky, and Elizabeth Mendel, of Alexandria, Virginia, six grandchildren: Ryan and Amanda Wagoner, Jennifer Neumiller, Michael Ullmer, and Maggie and Charles Mendel, and six great-grandchildren.

At his request, there will be no services. His remains are interred in the Memory Garden at the Dudley Hoffman Colunbarium next to those of his beloved wife. Any memorial contributions should be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the American Cancer Society.

Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family