Merlin Reese James, age 84, of Fort Myers, FL, formerly of Cincinnati and Coldwater, Ohio areas passed away early Tuesday morning, September 29, 2015 at the Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, FL.

He was born April 14, 1931 in Coldwater, OH, son of the late Spain Nile & Alice Margurite (Bell) James. On July 23, 1968 in Las Vegas, NV, he married Barbara Jeanne Clover James, who preceded him in death on April 26, 2006.

A 1949 graduate of Coldwater High School, he received his B.S. degree from Miami Univ. in 1954 and his Masters Degree from Miami in 1960. "Pug" served in the United States Army, being stationed in Panama from 1954-1956.

He was a Teacher and School Administrator in the State of Ohio for 23 yrs, Textbook Publishing House Sales Rep for 7 yrs, Professional Speaker impersonating as General George S. Patton Jr and President of MiReCo Productions from 1979 to 2000.

He had been a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church & Covenant Presbyterian Church, Ft Myers, FL, where he had been a Sunday School Teacher, a teen advisor for church activities and on church council.

He was a member of the Whiskey Creek Country Club, Ft Myers, where he won numerous golf tournaments, acquired several holes-in-one, and had been on the leadership board of the club.

He was a Kentucky Colonel and an Arkansas Traveler, bestowed upon him by then Gov. Bill Clinton, Life member of the American Legion Post 274, Life Member of the Korean War Veterans' Assoc.

Surviving are his sons- Brad A. (Patty) James of Toledo, OH, Bruce N. (Mary Beth) James of Celina, OH, & Brian R James of Wilmington, OH; step-children- Jeanne A. (Rocky) Johnson of Saint Petersburg, FL, James B. (Becky) Clover of Riverside, CA, Betsy K. (Brian) Hall of Bradenton, FL, & Chuck W. Clover; grandchildren- Joseph James of Toledo, OH, Stephen James of Cleveland, OH, Gabe (Nikki) James of Columbus, OH, Leana James of Columbus, OH, & Roby Ruppert James, Wilmington, OH, Kari (James) Allen, Krista (Kevin) Donovan, Ryann Clover, Sidney Clover, Megan Hall, & Molly Hall; special friend-Tan Noll, Fort Myers, FL; mother to his sons-Joan Bollenbacher of Celina, OH; & sister- Shirley (Jerry) Hemmelgarn of Kent, OH.

In addition to his parents and wife, Merlin was preceded in death by his brothers- Don, Mac, Dean, & Burt James; and sisters- Beverly James, Ginnie James, Marilyn Huelsman, & Jane Shrock.

Memorial Services will be held 2:00 PM, Monday, October 5, 2015 at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3825 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL with Pastor Stu Austin officiating. A reception will be held immediately following in the church fellowship hall. Interment will follow on Friday, October 9, 2015 at 3:00 PM in the Dayton National VA Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.

Contributions may be made to the Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33909.

To sign the online guest book, go to edgingtonfuneralhomes.com.