James F. Gainer

James F. Gainer, 92, of Elyria, Ohio, passed away on Sunday May 12, 2024, at UH Elyria Medical Center, with his family by his side. Jim was born October 24, 1931, in Latonia, West Virginia, the youngest child of Lee and Ola (née Whiting) Gainer. Jim’s father, Lee, was born in 1865, less than five months after President Lincoln’s assassination and the end of the Civil War, and had 14 children. Jim is the last of those siblings to now pass away, over 158 years after his own father’s birth!

Jim was raised in Gilmer County, West Virginia, graduated from Glenville High School, Glenville, WV, in 1949, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Glenville State College, Glenville, WV, in 1953. In 1954, he began two years of service in the U.S. Army, mostly in Germany, and was honorably discharged in 1956. Jim began his career in Education at Hurricane Junior High School, Hurricane, WV, and then went on for graduate studies at several colleges, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Marshall University, from which he received a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1960.

Jim was employed 33 years by the Midview School District, Grafton, Ohio, spending many years at Midview High School as a Guidance Counselor. It was at Midview that he met Rosalie, a first-year teacher, who became his wife of 61 years. Jim retired from Midview in 1993.

Jim and Rosalie were active members of Washington Avenue Christian Church, Elyria.  Together they traveled to many places in the U.S. and overseas, including cruises to Greece, Turkey, the Caribbean, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii. Jim was an avid sports fan, following West Virginia University and Ohio State University, and attended numerous notable college and pro sporting events, including the Rose Bowl.

Jim is survived by his son Mark F. Gainer (wife Elizabeth A. Eastwood) and grandson Andrew Eastwood Gainer, all of Strongsville, Ohio; son Todd J. Gainer of Ashburn, Virginia; several nieces and nephews (including Ferol Gainer Reimer and Randy Gainer, both formerly of Elyria), and many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosalie (née Bacso) in 2023; his parents, Lee and Ola (née Whiting) Gainer; siblings Ed, Harold, Merrill, Lynn, Thelma Hardman, Judy Rhoades, Scott, Herb “Ronnie”, and Fred; and half-brothers Blair, Harley, Lloyd, and Tom.

Liston Funeral Home in North Ridgeville, Ohio is handling arrangements.  A private committal service will take place at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, Ohio.

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