James R. "Jim" Victor

ELKHART — James R. “Jim” Victor, 88, passed away Dec. 14, 2017 at Hope Hospice, Cape Coral, Florida, following a battle with Mesothelioma.

James was born on March 25, 1929 in Tuscola, Illinois, the son of Sturges L. and Esther (Weir) Victor.

He is survived by his older brother, William, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

His younger sister, Barbara Victor Wolfe, is deceased.

Jim attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his B.A. in Mechanical Engineering.

He met his bride, Patricia J. Eberhart, and married in 1950.

They resided in Cincinnati and together raised five children: Tamera Alvarez, Nicki Magee (deceased), Alison Buzzard, Carla (John) Flath and Jonathan (Sue) Victor. They had six grandchildren, Erik Jaros, Joshua Buzzard, Mateo Alvarez, Sarah Keller, Andrea Alvarez and Lia Alvarez. Jim was also Great Grandpa to four great grandchildren.

In 1962, Jim and Pat moved to Van Wert, Ohio where they raised their family.

In 1968, Jim moved to Elkhart, and was employed by Syndicate Fixtures as Chief Engineer.

Pat lost her battle to diabetes in 1993. 

Jim remarried Barbara Cameo Knowles (deceased) in 1995 and surviving are four step daughters, Beth Montana, Beverly Grace, Babette (Richard) Boling and Belinda (Paul) Bockman, 11 step grandchildren and 13 step great grandchildren.

Jim retired from Syndicate Fixtures in 1997, but continued working and volunteering.

He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart where he spent many hours volunteering as the Facility Director and was active with Readers Theater. He volunteered for Hospice, Church Community Services and Elkhart Education Foundation.

Jim was very handy and creative. He had a lifelong thirst for knowledge and how things worked, even in his last days, he was trying to improve a drinking cup so he could swallow easier. Twice a week you could find Jim at the Sunshine Café with his friends Brad and Evan. There they were always solving problems on their napkins.

Jim loved his trips to Florida, where he would see his kids and grandkids. He could get warm, feel the sunshine on his face and get a little sand in his toes. That is where he wanted to spend his last days and that he accomplished.

Rest in peace, Jim Victor.

A celebration of Jim’s life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 with fellowship and refreshments starting at 11:30 a.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1732 Garden St, Elkhart, IN, 46514. Rev. Amy DeBeck and Rev. Matthew Keller will officiate.

The family requests memorials to the church or the Elkhart Education Foundation, visit OneCityOneMission.org to share a donation online.

Arrangements for Jim are under the care and direction of Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart.

To share a memory or condolence of Jim with his family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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