James Jim P. Rubel

James P. Rubel of Jacksonville, Florida passed away at the age of 81 on Monday, October 5th, 2015 at Memorial Hospital, following a brief illness. He was born the son of Olan H. Rubel and Bertha (McDonald) Rubel, now deceased. Jim was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and first love, Carol (Cunningham) Rubel, their son, Robin Rubel, and his second wife, Fran (Weese) Rubel. Jim is survived by his wife of seven years, Sherry Rubel, daughters Kim (Terry) Kiser, Cheryl (John) Lipan, and Donna (Michael) Hickey, sons, Roy (Pam) Weese, Jim (Jean) Weese, and Jimmy (Emily) Knowles, eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Also surviving Jim are two brothers, Don (Marguerite) Rubel and Ned (Becky) Rubel, two sisters, Mim Castor and Sharon Newing, and his sister-in-law Waneta Rubel. He was preceded in death by one brother, Gerald Rubel, his sister, Lois (Ralph) Clarke, his stepsister Phyllis Hagelberger, and his stepmother, Dorothy (Steele) Rubel.

Jim was a loyal member of the Class of 1952, Bryan High School, Bryan, Ohio, attending his 60th reunion in 2012, visiting with those old friends as if no time at all had passed.

A past President of Arlington Lions Club, Jim remained active in service as President and Chairman of the North Florida Lions Eye Foundation, providing support to those in need of eye surgeries and retinal transplants. Jim was also a hard-working, faithful member of his church, learning new skills such as QuickBooks in his seventies. He was a loyal employee through his many years in the computer service industry remaining friends with them over the years.

An avid reader, Jim read at least one book every week, with tastes running from mysteries to adventure, to history, and everything in between. The real love of his life was fishing; with at least two rods and reels in the car if he thought he’d be close to water more than two feet deep. In recent years, after participating in a Life Study he became an active hiker. He thoroughly enjoyed traveling, and sharing those experiences with family most of all.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to may make donations to Faith United Methodist Church (Bryan OH), St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Jacksonville FL), or to the Arlington Lions Club (Jacksonville FL).