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BORN
1938
DIED
2023
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James Skinner Obituary
James Carl Skinner
March 7, 1938 - September 15, 2023
At 2:30 p.m. on September 15, 2023, James Carl Skinner of Maumee, Ohio (formally of Adrian, Michigan) joined the love of his life (Dona Cole-Skinner) in eternity. It had been three years since his wife of 60 years had passed. Though he carried on, his wish was always to be with Dona, as he felt life wasn't complete without her.
James left his life on this earth as he lived his life …on his own terms and in his control. He was a very strong man in many, many ways. Mostly in love.
James was born on March 7, 1938 to Ralph and Mary Skinner in Toledo, Ohio. He was one of 10 children. (Joyce, Linda Lou, Robert, Bonnie, Ethyl, Harry, Junior, Fred and Roy).
On December 25, 1959 James married the love of his life Dona Avoree Cole in Adrian, Michigan where they lived and raised their family until the death of Dona in 2020. They were happily married for 60 years. You never saw one without the other. Together they owned and managed Skinner Collision for 32 years. They had two daughters, Debbie and Karen. Through the years they loved to travel and most of all enjoy their grandchildren. In 1991 James and Dona welcomed their first grandchild Jacob Michael Bogdan and then in 1994 their second grandchild Lindsey Amelia Rinker. These two become their everything. Many weekends were spent camping at Waffle farms in Coldwater, Michigan. They attended many of the school activities, from music programs to hockey games and band concerts as well. If you asked about their grandkids, you would always hear a story about how very proud they were of them both.
Upon retiring James and Dona enjoyed winters for 10 fun-filled years in Largo, Florida.
James was an avid fisherman, lover of NASCAR racing and a fanatic of airplanes! He had earned his private pilot license and owned his own Cessna airplane.
In his retirement years, he took up the hobby of making custom model airplanes out of cans. He took many orders and made them for his family and friends.
James was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dona Avoree Cole-Skinner; parents, Ralph and Mary Skinner; sisters, Linda Lou, Joyce and Bonnie; brothers, Robert, Junior and Harry. He is survived by his brothers, Roy and Fred and sister Ethyl.
James is also survived by his two daughters, Debbie Rinker of Maumee, Ohio, Karen (Mike) Bogdan of Maumee, Ohio and two grandchildren, Jacob (Andrea) Bogdan of Sylvania, Ohio and Lindsey Rinker of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. One great-grandchild Eloise (Ellie) Rose Bogdan of Sylvania, Ohio. Niece, Brenda (Dan) Thompson of Clayton, Michigan; and nephew, Craig (Shannon) Skinner of Adrian, Michigan.
Per James request services will be a private family graveside service. Wagley Funeral Home (Adrian) has been entrusted with the arrangements. On-line memories and condolences can be made at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in memory of James to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. The family would like to thank the special staff at The Lakes of Monclova for their care and friendship and the staff at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Detroit Ave. campus for all the love and support they gave as James took his journey home to be with our Lord and his loving wife Dona. Angels truly walk on this earth…in the form of Hospice care workers! Special thanks also, to Sabrina Cortez, Jim's favorite in-home caregiver. Sabrina quickly became a special friend, as she was compassionate and caring. We consider Sabrina a member of our family. She was truly a gift to Dad.
A GATEWAY TO LIFE
(Helen Steiner Rice)
Death is a gateway
We all must pass through
To reach that fair land
Where the soul BORN anew.
For Man's Born to die
And his Sojourn on Earth
Is a short span of years
Beginning with birth.
And like Pilgrims we wander
Until death takes our hand
And we start on our journey
To God's promised Land.
A place where we'll find
No suffering nor tears,
Where time is not counted
By days, months or years.
And in this fair city
That God has prepared
Are unending joys
To be happily shared
With all our loved ones
Who patiently wait
On death's other side
To open "THE GATE!"
March 7, 1938 - September 15, 2023
At 2:30 p.m. on September 15, 2023, James Carl Skinner of Maumee, Ohio (formally of Adrian, Michigan) joined the love of his life (Dona Cole-Skinner) in eternity. It had been three years since his wife of 60 years had passed. Though he carried on, his wish was always to be with Dona, as he felt life wasn't complete without her.
James left his life on this earth as he lived his life …on his own terms and in his control. He was a very strong man in many, many ways. Mostly in love.
James was born on March 7, 1938 to Ralph and Mary Skinner in Toledo, Ohio. He was one of 10 children. (Joyce, Linda Lou, Robert, Bonnie, Ethyl, Harry, Junior, Fred and Roy).
On December 25, 1959 James married the love of his life Dona Avoree Cole in Adrian, Michigan where they lived and raised their family until the death of Dona in 2020. They were happily married for 60 years. You never saw one without the other. Together they owned and managed Skinner Collision for 32 years. They had two daughters, Debbie and Karen. Through the years they loved to travel and most of all enjoy their grandchildren. In 1991 James and Dona welcomed their first grandchild Jacob Michael Bogdan and then in 1994 their second grandchild Lindsey Amelia Rinker. These two become their everything. Many weekends were spent camping at Waffle farms in Coldwater, Michigan. They attended many of the school activities, from music programs to hockey games and band concerts as well. If you asked about their grandkids, you would always hear a story about how very proud they were of them both.
Upon retiring James and Dona enjoyed winters for 10 fun-filled years in Largo, Florida.
James was an avid fisherman, lover of NASCAR racing and a fanatic of airplanes! He had earned his private pilot license and owned his own Cessna airplane.
In his retirement years, he took up the hobby of making custom model airplanes out of cans. He took many orders and made them for his family and friends.
James was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dona Avoree Cole-Skinner; parents, Ralph and Mary Skinner; sisters, Linda Lou, Joyce and Bonnie; brothers, Robert, Junior and Harry. He is survived by his brothers, Roy and Fred and sister Ethyl.
James is also survived by his two daughters, Debbie Rinker of Maumee, Ohio, Karen (Mike) Bogdan of Maumee, Ohio and two grandchildren, Jacob (Andrea) Bogdan of Sylvania, Ohio and Lindsey Rinker of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. One great-grandchild Eloise (Ellie) Rose Bogdan of Sylvania, Ohio. Niece, Brenda (Dan) Thompson of Clayton, Michigan; and nephew, Craig (Shannon) Skinner of Adrian, Michigan.
Per James request services will be a private family graveside service. Wagley Funeral Home (Adrian) has been entrusted with the arrangements. On-line memories and condolences can be made at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in memory of James to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. The family would like to thank the special staff at The Lakes of Monclova for their care and friendship and the staff at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Detroit Ave. campus for all the love and support they gave as James took his journey home to be with our Lord and his loving wife Dona. Angels truly walk on this earth…in the form of Hospice care workers! Special thanks also, to Sabrina Cortez, Jim's favorite in-home caregiver. Sabrina quickly became a special friend, as she was compassionate and caring. We consider Sabrina a member of our family. She was truly a gift to Dad.
A GATEWAY TO LIFE
(Helen Steiner Rice)
Death is a gateway
We all must pass through
To reach that fair land
Where the soul BORN anew.
For Man's Born to die
And his Sojourn on Earth
Is a short span of years
Beginning with birth.
And like Pilgrims we wander
Until death takes our hand
And we start on our journey
To God's promised Land.
A place where we'll find
No suffering nor tears,
Where time is not counted
By days, months or years.
And in this fair city
That God has prepared
Are unending joys
To be happily shared
With all our loved ones
Who patiently wait
On death's other side
To open "THE GATE!"
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Blade on Sep. 17, 2023.
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