James E. Powers, Sr.

James (Jim) Edward Powers, Sr, Founder and CEO of P&J Industries of Toledo, passed away on Friday, January 28, 2011 at St. Luke’s Hospital at the age of 79. Jim was born in Warren, Ohio on April 2, 1931 to Caroline (McCue) Powers and William Arthur Powers. He grew up in Niles, Ohio and graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1949. Afterward, he attended The University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio. On September 22, 1950, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Marguerite (Peg) Dunn. This past year, they celebrated 60 years of marriage. Jim began his career at Reactive Metals in Niles, where he was promoted to titanium salesman. As he traveled the country, the family relocated to Wilmington, Delaware in 1965, returned to Niles in 1970, and moved to Hatboro, PA, in 1974. There, Jim began an electroplating venture with his long-time friend and associate, Charlie Tirrell. In 1977, Jim and his son, Jim Powers, Jr., formed a corporation that would last close to 35 years. They opened P&J Industries, an electroplating enterprise, in Toledo, Ohio. In the early days, “Senior” and “Junior” slept in “the shop,” working 18-hour days. By the 1990’s, P&J was one of the major plating companies in the United States, with operations in El Paso, Texas, and Ligonier, Indiana, as well as several locations in Toledo, Ohio. Jim has been called a CEO, a true Irishman, a prince of a man, a loyal friend, a wonderful boss. However, Jim was, first and foremost, the devoted and loving husband of Peg Dunn Powers. She was his heart. He often said that the greatest gift a father can give his children is to love their mother. His children were blessed with evidence of this gift every day. As a father, Jim was the stuff of folk lore ??“ tall, dashing, charming, generous, raising his children with kindness and mutual respect. Jim’s pride and joy were his ten grandchildren. They returned this love by idolizing him and setting him as their role model. A true patriarch, his fatherly attention extended to his four sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, anyone who knew him as “Uncle Jim,” as well as his devoted employees who thought of him fondly as “Senior.” He is survived by his loving wife, Peg, his daughters and sons-in-law Patricia and Frank Slanina, Susan and DJ Kerscher, Caroline and Dennis Powers-Miller, Constance and Doug Schnitkey, daughter-in-law Wendy Powers; grandchildren Matthew, Maureen, and Meghan Slanina, Jaclynn and Danielle Powers, William Kerscher, Lauren and Jeffrey MacAllister, James and Patrick Powers-Miller; great-grandchildren Brayden and Kaylee Spinale. He was preceded in death exactly ten weeks before his own by his beloved son, James Powers, Jr. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Caroline and Arthur, and brother, William. A celebration of Jim’s life will take place on what would have been his 80th birthday, Saturday, April 2, 2011 at St. Joan of Arc Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd. Family will receive guests in the church narthex at 10 a.m. with a memorial mass to follow at 11 a.m. Details of a luncheon to follow the service will be announced after the mass. “I’ve lived a life that’s full, I’ve traveled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.” Frank Sinatra.

Tributes

James E. Powers, Sr.

April 2, 1931 - January 28, 2011