James "Jim" H. Zeisler

Jim was born on July 7, 1941, in Portsmouth, Ohio to Howard and Virginia (Higgins) Zeisler. He grew up in Portsmouth and played varsity tennis, which became a lifelong passion, for Portsmouth High School. He also met the love of his life, Betty Willis, at a PHS high school dance and they were later married on April 29, 1961. After high school he enlisted and served in the United States Air Force from 1960-1963 where he was stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho, and then in Alaska at Bethel AFS. After serving in the USAF he and wife Betty moved to Columbus, OH, where he became a firefighter for the City of Columbus. During his time with CFD, he worked as a firefighter, then paramedic, and eventually as a dispatcher in the CFD Alarm Office. Jim served in the Local 67 Firefighters’ Union as an officer and spent many evenings on his days off advocating for working rights and fairness in his profession. He remained active, even after retirement, by attending unit meetings, picnics, and other events sponsored by the CFD family. He was also a Voyageur Militaire with The Forty & Eight for the Columbus Chapter of the American Legion.

After retiring from CFD in 1990, Jim and Betty followed their dream to Daytona Beach, FL, where they enjoyed many years together. During Jim’s years in Florida he was very active playing tennis as well as officiating tennis with the United States Tennis Association and Embry Riddle University. He served as President of the Fairway Estates Homeowners Association, and he also belonged to the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), Volusia County Chapter, where he and others worked to restore the Daytona Beach Historical Clock Tower near the Boardwalk. He also served as Vice President of the local Daytona Beach Chapter 154 of the NAWCC. Jim was a former Commander at American Legion Post 430 in Bexley, OH, and was currently a member of the American Legion Post 361 in South Daytona. He was also a member and served in various capacities with the VFW, Eagles, and Moose Lodge over the years.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents Howard and Virginia, his sisters Janet Schwamberger and Phyllis Jean “Pidge” Fuller, and his sister-in-law Judy Huffman. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn (Julie Ross), his son Andy (Mike Griffith), his brother-in-law Jim Willis and his wife Cindi, his brother-in-law Sam Schwamberger, many nieces and nephews, and his caregiver and companion, Kathy Lowrey.

A Gathering of Friends and Family will be held Tuesday, February 8th from 12-1:30pm, with a service at 1:30pm, at Shannon Maloney Funeral Home, 4084 Halifax Drive in Port Orange, FL. The Celebration of Jim’s Life will continue at the American Legion Post 361, 2648 S. Ridgewood Avenue, South Daytona, beginning at 3pm. A second memorial service will be held in Portsmouth, OH, at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to Halifax Hospice. Arrangements entrusted to Shannon Maloney Funeral Home, (386) 760-9660.  To share stories and condolences with the family, please visit: www.shannonmaloneyfuneralhome.com.