James Palmer Hancock

HANCOCK James Palmer James Palmer Hancock, born February 18, 1930, died at home with family at his side Thursday, June 1, 2006. The Perrysburg resident was 76. He was born in Alton, IL, the son of Palmer W. Hancock and the former Helen Masel. He moved to Toledo as a boy with his family and graduated from Culver Military Academy and Yale University. While in college he met Shirley Elizabeth Walbridge. Following graduation they were married in 1952 and soon duty called and Jim served with the Army Artillery in Korea. Following the Korean conflict, Jim began a 30 year career at Owens-Illinois, serving as an industrial engineer at plants in Huntington, WV, Los Angeles and Oakland, CA, before moving back to Toledo in 1966. There he continued working in various financial management positions at O-I headquarters until he "retired" in 1985. Not content with the retired life he embarked on new careers as a banker at the former Trustcorp, and as a development officer for the Toledo Community Foundation. Jim drew even more fulfillment from his family, friends and volunteer activities as from his professional life. He was a board member of Family Services of Greater Toledo for several years in the 1970's serving as president for two of them. From 1977 to 1984, he served on the Ottawa Hills High School Board of Directors, the last two years as President. For many years he served on the allocations committee for the United Way of Greater Toledo. Jim was very active in his church and served on the vestry and as treasurer for St. Michaels in the Hills Episcopal Church. He enjoyed golf, American history, and exploring new places. In retirement, he spent valued time with his sons and grandchildren and traveled widely, visiting Europe, China, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Sub-Saharan Africa, central Asia and India. Surviving him are Shirley Walbridge Hancock, his wife of 54 years and constant loving companion in travel and at home; sons, James Palmer Hancock Jr. (Karen Walker), of Baltimore, Maryland, Jeffrey Walbridge Hancock (Laurie Meidt), of Boise, Idaho, Gregory Masel Hancock (Mary Kay Osgar), of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and four grandchildren, William Walker Hancock, James Palmer Hancock III, Sarah Elizabeth Hancock, and Emily Marie Hancock. He is also survived by his sister, Janice Baker (William); nephew, Stephen Baker (Colleen) and niece, Melissa Vanderwaal. Services are to be at St. Michael's In the Hills Episcopal Church at 4718 Brittany Rd., Ottawa Hills, at 11 a.m. Friday, June 9. There will be no visitation. A private interment will be held in the church's Memorial Garden. Jim's friends are encouraged to bring pictures and anecdotes to share with one another at a reception at the church following the memorial service. The family requests that instead of flowers, tributes in Jim's name be made to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 4718 Brittany Rd., Toledo, Ohio 43606, The Opportunity Fund at the Toledo Community Foundation, 608 Madison Ave., Suite 1540, Toledo, OH 43604 or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Rd., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551. Arrangements by the J. Jeffrey Fretti Funeral Home, 5045 W. Sylvania Avenue (At Corey Rd.) 419-843-1117.