James D. Blythe II

James D. Blythe, II, age 80, lifelong resident of Central Indiana passed away on July 7, 2021. Born to the late James D. Blythe and Marjorie Horne Blythe on October 20, 1940 in Indiana and marrying Sara Frantz in 1974, he lived a life punctuated by service to his community. This service began at North Central High School where Jim was the first and second ever Student Council President and late the first and second ever NCHS Alumni President and elected to the North Central High School “Wall of Fame” in 1991. A graduate of Butler University, Jim was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and served as its president from 1960-1962. Jim practiced law for over 55 years, after receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law. Jim was a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, served on his its board, and was the General Coordinator of the Marion County Grievance Committees from 1981-1988. He was also a lifetime member of the Indiana State Bar. Jim also served as a Supreme Court Mediator and was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. He was most recently “of Counsel” with the law firm of Dale & Eke, P.C where he continued to ensure his clients were well advised. Meanwhile, he also served the Salvation Army on its Board starting in 1975, as Chairman of the Board for two terms and later was elected to “Life Membership.” Jim served as President of the Marion County American Cancer Society and was selected “Man of the Year” in 1974. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Jaycees and was named “An Outstanding Young Hoosier” in 1975 and received the Jaycee Life Senatorship Award in 1976. A member of the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Indianapolis since 1975, he was awarded a life membership in 2017. He served 26 terms as Chairman of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Committee. He was Vice-President, the President of the club as well as Kiwanian of the Year 1996/1997. He was the Indianapolis Kiwanis Foundation President and two term chairman of the Indiana Kiwanis Foundation. Active in the Republican Party, he was selected at “The Outstanding Young Republican of the United States” in 1965, served on the Congressional Staff of Richard Roudebush and served two terms in the Majority Attorney’s Office in the Indiana House of Representatives. Jim was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster of the Blind School Boy Scouts (1958); Past President for the Central Indiana Boy Scout Council for two terms; Silver Beaver Award recipient and nominated to the Boy Scouts of America National Hall of Fame for Leadership and selected for life membership in 1987. He was a Sagamore of the Wabash recipient from the Indiana Governor for Civic Activity. Jim is survived by his wife, Sara Frantz Blythe of 46 years and his daughter, Amanda Renee Richmond (Joshua), granddaughter Juliana Blythe Richmond; Jim’s brother, Dr. Jerry E. Blythe as well as two nephews and a niece and countless friends. Family and friends will gather on Sunday July 11th from 2:00 to 4:00pm in Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel with service at 4:00pm. You are invited to visit the website www,leppertmortuary.com where you may share a personal memory of Jim or in lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to the Indiana District of the Salvation Army, the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Indianapolis Abe Lincoln Scholarship, the Crossroads Council Boy Scouts of America, or the donor’s choice.