James L. Baltzell, 78, of Celina, Ohio, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, died at 5:58 p.m., on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at St. Rita's Medical Center, in Lima, Ohio, where he was a patient.

Jim was born on March 21, 1937 in Elyria, Ohio. He was the son of Floyd A. and Mabel Laura (Wurster) Baltzell. On March 23, 1957, he married Shirley Wilson, and she survives in Celina.

Jim graduated from Mendon Union High School, and was fortunate to be able to attend his 60th. class reunion this past May. Jim and Shirley lived in Rockford from 1957 to 2008, when they moved to Celina. He was a member of the former Rockford Presbyterian, and had been attending the Celina First Church of God. Jim loved gardening, cooking, and baking, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his granddaughter and great granddaughter, and was looking forward to another great grandbaby on the way. Jim retired from Reynolds and Reynolds in Celina, where he had worked for 33 years.

Surviving in addition to his wife Shirley are three children: Tim and Eric, both of Celina and Tami (John) Conklin of Whitehouse, Ohio. One granddaughter, Amanda (Jon) Bryant and one great granddaughter, Amelia Bryant, all of Bowling Green, Ohio, also survive. Jim had 4 brothers, two of which survive: Gary (Jean) Baltzell, Rockford, and Ned Baltzell, also of Rockford. Two sisters-in-law also survive - Martha Baltzell, Rockford, and Ruth Kay Baltzell, Findlay, Ohio. Deceased are two brothers, Fred and Wayne Baltzell, along with 1 sister-in-law, Audrey Baltzell.

Services for Jim will be held on Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford. Officiating will be Pastor Bruce Strine. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 4-8 p.m. and on Monday, one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the Parkinson Foundation of Northwest Ohio. Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.