James A. Bethel, Sr., age 94, of Peoria, Arizona went home to be with the Lord on March 31, 2021. He was born in Holloway, Ohio on June 2, 1926 to the late James S. and Ruth C. Bethel. James married Mary Ann Leone on February 5, 1948 and spent 68 years together before her death in 2016. Together they had 5 children.
James worked on the B&O Railroad in Wheeling, West Virginia, while living in St. Clairsville, Ohio. When the train station closed up in 1959, he moved his wife and 2 girls to Phoenix, Arizona, where he called home for many years. The last 3 children were then born in Phoenix.
After a few different jobs, James worked and retired from Motorola. At that time he decided he wanted to get a degree that he previously never had time for. James went back to college at Grand Canyon University and received his diploma when he turned 80. After the death of his beloved wife in 2016 he re-married to Viola Gerrard whom he spent the rest of his life with.
James is survived by his second wife, Viola, children Marcia (Bert) Fletcher, Joy (Wayne) Resch, Jame
(Randy), Wright, James A. Bethel, Jr., Lyra (Pat) Clark, his sister Freida Hambleton, along with 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister.
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