Jim was born in Detroit on October 4, 1927 to Percy and Norma Clements. His father Percy had immigrated from Standish, England, attempting to book passage to America on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Jim graduated from Redford High School in Detroit, class of 1945. He then enlisted in the US Army Air Force on January 3rd, 1946, serving in Germany to establish radar for aircraft leading to the Berlin Airlift. He married Marjorie (Satterthwaite) on August 6, 1949 after a lifetime of knowing Marjorie since the ages of one and two years old. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute, now Kettering University, and began a 42 year career at General Motors Corporation, as a supervising engineer in die engineering for Fisher Body. Besides family and church, Jim loved model railroading. He always had an extensive model railroad layout in every home he owned. His layouts were frequently featured in national railroad magazines and visited during conferences and conventions. He was a life member of the National Model Railroad Association and a founding member of the Stoney Creek Model Railroad Club. In 2005 he achieved and was awarded the Master Model Railroader, #351 throughout the world. Jim was an avid church member, gardener, and animal lover, rarely having a home without at least one dog. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Marjorie Clements. In addition he leaves children Phyllis Clements, Lois Shepherd (Richard), James Clements (Vicki), and Janis Soloway; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Jim is predeceased by his parents Percy and Norma (Griffin) Clements and sister, Lois Rankin. Jim’s family will welcome all to a memorial gathering on Tuesday September 3rd from 2 to 8pm.
at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 West University Drive in downtown Rochester, and on Wednesday September 4th from 10:30am until the time of a memorial service at 11am at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, located at 100 Romeo St. in Rochester.
