James Beringer

James L. Beringer, Sr. age 90, died February 25, 2015. Jim was born in Dayton, OH on November 5, 1924 and thereafter a life-long resident of Akron and a founding member of St. Sebastian Parish. Jim was a graduate of Buchtel High School in 1943 and a graduate of the Air Force Cadet Training Command in 1945 WW II serving as a 2nd lieutenant and trained as a fighter pilot - a few weeks away from being assigned to a combat unit in the Pacific at war's end. Returning home he graduated from John Carroll Univ. in 1949 and took post graduate studies in engineering at Univ. of Akron. For many years after war's end he remained in the Air Force Reserve and flew with the Ohio Air National Guard as a pilot. In 1953 he founded Beringer Plating, Inc. which he helmed for over 40 years - fulfilling an ambition to be successful in private free enterprise. The business continues under ownership of his son Jim, Jr. Jim enjoyed a life of many activities; flying, boating, skiing, biking and golfing, but mostly the activities that went with raising 4 sons. Also, for many years he particularly enjoyed lunching with his school day buddies. Many hobbies filled his free time - mostly designing, building or restoring miniature motorized riding vehicles of various types(cars, go carts, motor bikes). Also he enjoyed telling friends that he finished 3rd in the 1936 Soap Box Derby - only later to admit that it was 3rd in his 'heat'. He was the Patriarch of a Thanksgiving Day hike that has it's beginnings in 1960 with only himself and his then 2 sons. It later became known as the 'Turkey Trot'. With each ensuing year they were joined by other family members, friends and neighbors. It became traditional and still enjoyed by many each Thanksgiving Day. Preceded in death by parents Charles A. and Kathryn L. Beringer, wife Betty (Vaughn), sister Jane Crawford, brother William J. Beringer, and is survived by sons James, Jr.; Edward and Michael of Akron; David(Colette) of Naples FL; brothers Charles and John(Nancy); Sisters Kathleen Buehrle and Marjory(John) Dettling of Akron; grandchildren Alan, Renee and Tiffany and many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11AM at St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Ave. Akron. A private family committal service will be held at Rose Hill Burial Park. Memorials may be made to St. Sebastian Parish Foundation or a charity of your choosing.