James B. Conklin

James Bernard Conklin, 71, of Uhrichsville, passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2015, at Park Village Healthcare in Dover, after a lengthy illness. A son of the late Riley Franklin and Melva Helen (Keiser) Conklin, he was born April 11, 1944 in Dennison.

He was a 1962 graduate of Tuscarawas-Warwick High School before attending Kent State University’s Tuscarawas Campus. Jim worked on the family dairy farm growing up and at Landmark Feedmill in Uhrichsville before joining the U.S. Navy in 1965 to serve in the Vietnam War. He met and married Nelda Faye (Garrett) Conklin of Memphis, Tennessee in 1967 while in San Diego, California. She preceded him in death in November 1981.

After returning to Ohio, Jim worked for Cree Tire in Dover, Ziegler Tire, and OIS Tire in Midvale and Dover. He then retired from his own business, S&S Tire, in Gnadenhutten, in 2005. He married the love of his life, Velma Mae (Holloway) Moreland Conklin who passed away February 20, 2007. Jim was a 32nd degree Master Mason out of Freeport Lodge #415 and the Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge. He had been an active member of the Uhrichsville, Moose, Elks and Eagles for years, as well as the V.F.W.

Jim and Faye had two children, Tom (Miki) Conklin and Darla (John) Rainsberg. When Jim and Velma married in 1982, he was blessed with three more children, Patricia (Brad) Blair, Ron (Lisa) Moreland, and Denise Hodkinson. Jim was also blessed with 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren with 4 more expected. Jim’s siblings are Gloria Jean Rentsch, Lucy (Carlton) Lentz, and Robert Conklin, Sr., and he has many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Dustin Moreland; sister-in-law, Adele Conklin; niece, Beth Lentz; and nephew, A.J. Conklin.

Jim enjoyed his time with his grandchildren and was always willing and wanting to give anything and everything to them. He will be remembered as a great storyteller. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, square dancing, deer hunting, the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Bengals, and The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Jim will be laid to rest with his beloved wife of over 38 years, Velma, in Dutch Valley Cemetery near Uhrichsville. His family will receive friends at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 with a Masonic Memorial Service at 3:45 p.m. and a funeral service, officiated by Rev. Rebecca Sisley, at 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children.