James Frayer passed away on October 25, 2011, after a lengthy illness.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 2, 1929, to Mildred A. Froelich (Colledge), Jim attended schools in Richmond and Turlock, California, graduating from Turlock High School in 1947. After graduation, Jim served in the National Guard.
Jim moved to Ventura County in 1969 to work as a packinghouse manager for Roger Donlon and Company in Oxnard. He later worked for Dave Walsh Company, and was a warehouse manager for Calpine Containers in Oxnard providing packaging solutions to the surrounding agricultural community until his retirement in 1996.
Jim loved to fly and was a long-time member of the local Civil Air Patrol. He spent hundreds of hours searching with his CAP buddies for down aircraft and missing persons throughout California.
Also of great enjoyment, Jim was a model railroader specializing in N-gauge. Along with his model railroading gang, they built a complete model layout of mountains, lakes, cities, mining towns, forests, and tunnels with shops, cars and people. They ran trains by the hour sometimes with precise time tables of train pick-ups and delivery. What fun he had with his special friends!
Jim attended many model railroading conventions in all parts of the United States always taking advantage of riding on different trains wherever he was.
Jim is survived by his wife, Rita, his daughter, Kathi Cross, of Santa Rosa, California; daughter, Susan Byerly (Marv) of Modesto, California; daughter, Nancy Carlson of Santa Rosa, California; son, James Frayer, Jr., of Santa Rosa, California; step-son, Frank Frayer (Michele) of South Lyon, Michigan; step-daughter, Darlene Wentworth, of Cedar Park, Texas; 15 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial luncheon will be held in Jim's honor at the family home on Saturday, November 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For directions, please call (805) 914-9376.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's name be directed to the Ventura County Community Foundation, Women's Legacy Fund, 1317 Del Norte Road, Suite 150, Camarillo, California, 93010.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.
Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome .com.
Turlock Journal
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
