James D. Petros, of Turlock, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Friday afternoon, August 24, 2012, with his family by his side.  He was born in Chicago, Ill. to parents James Esa and Linda Radtke Petros on January 28, 1939. 

When he was eight years old, his parents moved to Turlock, CA.  He attended Turlock and Hughson High Schools until he enlisted in the US Navy in 1957.   After his military service, in 1961 he married JoAnn Evon and together they had four children, Gina, Jimmy, Sargina and Sandy.  Jim worked for several companies over the years and his job with IBM brought the young family to Chicago.  In 1978, the family moved back to Turlock. In 1999 he married Bonnie Tarver.  He remained in Turlock until his passing.

Jim was quite the student, and for those of you who knew him, knew he was a man of very high intelligence and knew a lot and a little about everything.  He was an avid reader, a lifetime student of psychology, technology and many other things.  One of his proudest accomplishments was that he was a founding member of the Serenity Fellowship in Turlock.  There is where he found the peace and strength he needed to heal the brokenness of alcoholism.  Jim was so appreciative of his friends at Serenity for the last 30 years. He heard and found the Lord through his favorite prayer, the Serenity Prayer.

He is predeceased by his parents, his precious granddaughter, Cassandra Grace Meyers and many relatives.

He is survived by his four children, Gina (David) Blom, of Turlock, CA; Jimmy (Lisa) Petros, of Fresno, CA; Sargina (George) Carella of Helena, MT and Sandy Meyers, of Turlock, CA.; grandchildren, Zachary (Heather), Jordan and Lauren Torres, Danielle, Victoria and Sophia Carella, Lahna and Lola Petros and first expected great granddaughter.  Also, he leaves behind the mother of his children, JoAnn Petros and his dear friend Bonnie Petros and her family.

The family of Jim Petros thanks the team at Community Hospice, Alexander Cohen Hospice House, for their exceptional care of our Dad.  We could not have done this without their caring and professional support. Thank you to all that made a special visit to see Dad in his last days. Your kindness will not be forgotten.  Please consider a donation in his memory to Alexander Cohen Hospice House, 2201 Euclid Ave, Hughson, CA 95326 or the American Cancer Society, 1101 Sylvan Ave., Modesto, CA 95350.

Services are entrusted to Turlock Funeral Home, with visitation Friday, August 31st, 5pm – 8pm and Service, Saturday, September, 1st, at 11:00 am.