James Richard Cummings

ASHLAND — James Richard Cummings, 85, of Ashland, formerly of Wellston, Ohio, went home to be with his Saviour on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.Mr. Cummings was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Vinton County, Ohio, a son of the late George William and Cynthia Ponn Cummings. He was also preceded in death by a brother, George Edward Cummings, and a son-in-law, Wayne Schneider. He was a member and lay minister of Community of Christ in Ironton, Ohio, and a World War II Navy veteran. He was a 1944 Vinton Rural High School graduate and was self-employed in several different industries. Papa Jim enjoyed eating three breakfasts by 10 a.m. every day and his favorite meal was fried chicken. The biggest joys in his life were his family and his faith. Papa’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have a legacy of love and faith because of him. Papa Jim left us with many family traditions including fried oysters and oyster stew on Christmas morning, summer trips to the beach and eating the turkey drumstick on Thanksgiving Day.Papa loved to go hunting and fishing. He held the Spring Maiden Pier King Mackerel fishing record. He looked forward to a trip to Myrtle Beach every year. He loved the ocean. He loved Camp Bountiful in Jackson, Ohio, and was one of the founding men of the campgrounds. His love of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team was known to cause him to sneak out of church early to catch a game on TV and the radio. One of Papa’s favorite pastimes was to talk to everyone in his extended family by phone. He was the social center of our family and kept everyone in the loop. We will miss him, but we know he is watching over us in heaven. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Harriet Littlejohn Cummings; five children, James Richard (Kathy) Cummings II of Columbus, Ohio, Sue Schneider of Ashland, Connie (John) Humphrey of Ashland, Kay (Rick) Warner of Lexington and Douglas Edward (Crystal) Cummings of Ashland; 14 grandchildren, James Cummings III, Tara Cummings, Becky Schneider (Rob) Dern, Rachel Schneider, Katie (Mike) Barber, Kelly (Derrick) Clubb, Ricky Warner, Tommy Warner, Emilee Warner, Hannah Cummings, Abbie Cummings, Eli Cummings, Tanner Vanhoose and Chase Vanhoose; and three great-grandchildren, Amelia Kate Barber, Jack Edward Barber and Neely Jo Clubb.The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Bailey Family Funeral Home in Flatwoods with Pastor Michael Whitehead officiating, assisted by Becky Schneider Dern and Tara Cummings. Burial will be in Bellefonte Memorial Gardens in Flatwoods.Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 2, 2012, and an hour before services Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his honor to Outreach International, 129 W. Lexington, Independence, MO 64050 or Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, KY 41101.Military rites will be performed by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post 93 of Kenova.To send condolences or for webcasting of the funeral, visit BaileyFamilyFuneralHome.com.