James E. Ayers

1932 - 2015

MILLBURY - James E. Ayers, who rose to the top of the executive ranks at Dana Corp. and still tended the crops on his family's Lake Township farm, died Wednesday at his home. He was 82.

He had an apparent heart attack, his wife, Shirley, said.

A 33-year employee, Mr. Ayers retired in 1997 as Dana's chief financial officer. He'd been vice president and treasurer of the automotive firm for 3½ years when Dana named him chief financial officer in 1989.

"Dad was terribly loyal, and he knew Dana was a good company," his son Jon said. "He was a driven, purpose-oriented guy."

Mr. Ayers began at Dana in 1964, working in the production control department of the Spicer Transmission plant in Toledo. Several financial manager positions were followed by his 1974-75 stint as treasurer of Hayes-Dana Inc., which was Dana's Canadian subsidiary. He returned to the parent corporation as director of investor relations. Dana directors in 1980 elected him assistant treasurer and corporate officer. His duties included cash and corporate investment management.

"That was in a period when a lot of the people who rose to the top of major corporations were local people, and that was good," said Southwood J. "Woody" Morcott, retired Dana chairman and chief executive.

Through Mr. Ayers' long connection with Dana, he knew - "almost a gut feel," Mr. Morcott said - what was most important to the company on the financial side.

"He knew the ramifications of financial decisions. He would come right in and tell you," Mr. Morcott said. "He really understood and knew the business."

Home was the farm owned by his grandfather, Albert Ayers, in the 19th century. In the late 1960s, Mr. Ayers and his wife rebuilt the old farmhouse from the foundation up, contrary to the advice of experts.

"We enjoyed the challenge since many people told us to bulldoze this place," Mr. Ayers told The Blade in 1973.

The couple had fruit trees, a vegetable garden, and, until the late 1980s, animals - chickens, then sheep. After a day at the office, he'd climb on his tractor and head for the fields.

"He just loved his work. He never brought his work home," his wife said. "When he walked out of that door, it was family time and farm time."

He continued to farm until about two years ago.

He was born June 14, 1932, to the former Hazel Rudolph and Bert Ayers. He played baseball at Lake High School and Bowling Green State University, and, after receiving a bachelor's degree, enlisted in the Army. He served in Stuttgart, Germany, and thought about becoming a teacher and coach back home, his son said, but Army mentors believed he was graduate school material.

Mr. Ayers received a master of business administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis and continued his business studies at Harvard University. Before his Dana career, he worked for General Motors in New York City.

A lifelong member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Millbury, he'd been president and treasurer and an elder.

His brother, Dr. Melvern Ayers, died July 27, 2014. Dr. Ayers in the late 1960s became the first director of obstetrics and gynecology at what was then the new Medical College of Ohio.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Ayers, whom he married June 4, 1966; sons Jonathan and Jeremy Ayers; daughter, Julia Crimmins, and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. today in the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Millbury Chapel, on Woodville Road. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Millbury.

The family suggests tributes to the church.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.