James M. Fletcher

James “Butch”, “Jim” Maurice Fletcher 70, of Dover, Ohio passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, while in the care of Community Hospice House after a six year long battle with cancer.

He was born in Carthage, New York, on January 7, 1944 to parents, Maurice and Virginia Fletcher.
Jim graduated from Carthage High School in 1961 and joined the United States Navy in 1965 as an Aerographer’s Mate.

While in the Navy, one of his shipmates introduced Jim to his sister, Rosanne. Jim and Rosanne, after being together for a year, married on May 8th, 1976, where they spent the next 38 years in each other’s loving company. As an Aerographer’s Mate, Jim served two consecutive tours in Vietnam on board the USS Bennington (CV-20) where he would track the weather to ensure the aircrafts were safe to fly and complete missions. He later went on to serve aboard the USS Independence (CV-62), and various other shore duty stations which included Rota, Spain and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Jim retired from the navy after 22 years as a Chief Warrant Officer. Following his retirement in 1987, Jim and Roseanne moved to Ohio, opening their own home improvement business, where they built ramps, kitchens, and bathrooms for the handicapped in order to make their homes more accessible. After 15 years, Jim retired from the home improvement business. He came out of naval retirement on January 19, 2013
and put his dress blue uniform on one final time to re-enlist his granddaughter, Boatswain’s Mate 3rd class Samantha Fletcher.

Jim was the kind of person who would put a smile on anyone’s face whom he came in contact with. It was his nature to joke and kid around with everyone he met and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Rosanne; son, Martin (Cindy) Fletcher; daughter, Elizabeth (Michael) Hess; daughter-in –law, Dottie Fletcher; sister, Lilian (Jim) Hamilton; brother, John (Susan) Fletcher and grandchildren, Samantha and James Fletcher, Jesse, Jason, and Taylor Hess, Zachary Gorse, Jacob, Caleb, and Seth Fletcher and great-grandson Jesse Hess, Jr.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Robins, sisters, Cindy Laplatney, and Marry Conner, and sons, Scott and Michael Fletcher.

The family will receive guests on Sunday, April 27, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where a service celebrating Jim’s life will be held at 4:00 PM. Immediately following the service, members of the New Philadelphia VFW will perform military honors at the funeral center’s flag pole. Following services, all are invited to share a meal and fellowship in the Hospitality Room of the Dover Geib Center.

Memorial contributions in Jim’s name may be directed to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.