Jess "Fuzzy" Blount

Jess Blount, AKA Fuzzy, Jay, Jesse, Duane, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, September 8th, 2019. He was born January 7th, 1930 in Flint, Michigan as an Arkie in a converted garage. He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse “Fuzzy” Otha Blount, mother Robbie Vashti Jarvis Blount, and his loving daughters Leslie (Luke) Polczinski and Lisa (Bruce) Gregory. He leaves behind his cherished wife and caregiver, Marjorie Lockwood Blount, three wonderful grandchildren: Samantha Gregory (Ron) Oliver, Kathryn (Michael Kirk) Polczinski, and Christopher (Tash) Polczinski, sisters Shari (Joe) Marion and Barb (Tom) Garrow, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, 107 nieces and nephews, and countless surrogate grandchildren.

He graduated from Michigan State University, where he had a lifelong love of the University, much to his Buckeye family’s chagrin. He spent 5 years in the US Navy as a Corpsman during the Korean War. He was proud to have graduated with honors and never missed a promotion during his service. While stationed in Alaska he started his own optical store, Blount Optical Service. This began a 45-year career in the optical business. After his service, he became a salesman for White-Haines Optical in Columbus Ohio, ultimately becoming the Vice President, which is also where he met Marge. He moved to New York City with Optique du Monde as Vice President of Sales where he was instrumental in introducing the first designer eyewear for Ralph Lauren and Diane von Furstenberg. He and Marge moved back to Columbus to start another optical business, American Essor. After retiring at 67 he passed the exam to become a Financial Advisor and served as a training coach for Prudential, UBS, and Wells Fargo.

One of the joys of his life was his passion for being on the water. He was an avid boater, taking many sailing trips and living with Marge on their boat for several years. This “captain” never missed a moment to share his love of boating with the numerous children in his life, making them honorary first mates. Whenever the opportunity arose, he happily passed on the joys of fishing as well. He and Marge made a second home at their boat on Lake Erie. His first mates quickly learned his unique sense of humor and his many different grumbles. He may have groaned, but they always knew his love was larger. When he and Marge moved inland, he surprised her with a pond. Neighbors often found him sitting there wearing one of his many hats and inviting them to join him. Being competitive, his greatest defeat was accepting the fact he visited 49 states and Marge visited all 50 (he never made it to Vermont). They also enjoyed the thrill of travel to many countries throughout the world. His hobbies and charitable causes were expansive. He volunteered with the St Andrew’s Fish Fry for many years. He liked singing in his church choir and the Singing Buckeyes. He enjoyed playing euchre, cribbage, poker, golf, and softball. He was known as a pool shark and amateur photographer. In addition to his love of reading he wrote and self-published his autobiography, volunteered in the Windermere Elementary School library, and was proud of his 50+ year subscription to Time Magazine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Rd, Columbus OH, 43215 (memo Jess Blount Tribute) or https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=586078&fr_id=1060&pg=fund. His wife and several loved ones will be walking in the Central Ohio Walk to End Alzheimer’s the day after the service, on the J & J Walkers team. Family will receive friends from 5-7pm on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Rd, Columbus OH, 43221. A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Riverside United Methodist Church, 2701 Zollinger Rd, Columbus OH, 43221 where family will also receive friends from 1pm until time of service.