Death Claims James Heffner Early Monday
James I. Heffner, 69, manager of the Lima Automobile club for the last 20 years, died at 4:30 a.m. Monday at his residence, 1021 Rice-av, after an illness of six weeks.
Heffner was born Feb. 8, 1875 in Lima, the son of George and Rebecca Jane Heffner, pioneer residents of Allen-co. His father was the superintendent of the old Irvine Hub and Spoke factory, one of Lima's pioneer industries in the 1880's.
Heffner graduated from Lima high school in 1894 and attended Oberlin college. As a youth he was a prominent bicycle racer and won many prizes in competition at various distances.
His business experience included employment with the advertising department of the Republican Gazette, part ownership in the Mansfield Daily Shield, appointment to the position of assistant postmaster of Lima, and clerk of the criminal court before becoming manager of the Auto club.
He was a veteran of the Spanish-American war and was a member of the Elks lodge, which recently awarded him a service button for 25 years of membership, and the Lima club. He was also a member of the Trinity Methodist church.
He is survived by his wife, Jennie; his son, George A. Heffner, a teacher at South high school, and a sister, Mrs. Amanda Parks of Fort Wayne. His first wife, Margaret, died in 1931.
The body will remain at the Davis, Miller and Son funeral home until time of services, which will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Trinity Methodist church, of which he was a member. Rev. Clarence S. Grauser, pastor, will conduct the rites and burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery.
(published in The Lima News, Monday, March 2, 1942)
