James R. Ransom

Date of Death: November 18, 2011

James R. Ransom, 84, of West Lafayette, died on November 18th surrounded by his children and loved ones at Westminster Village after complications from a fall. Born March 31st, 1927 in New Castle, Indiana, he was the son of the late Ruth and Elmer Ransom of Aurora, Illinois. Jim married Jean H. Ballantyne of Glencoe, Illinois on July 1st, 1950. The couple moved to Lafayette in 1957 from Park Ridge, Illinois. Jean preceded him in death in October of 1995.
As a member of the “Greatest Generation”, Jim served his country by enlisting in the United States Navy and serving in the Pacific Theater during WWII. In his later years, he organized a state-wide reunion of sailors and marines who served on Landing Craft. After his military service, Jim graduated from Antioch University and subsequently received a Masters degree from the University of Illinois.
Jim was a small business owner in Lafayette where he founded Lafayette Accounts Service, and briefly owned Lafayette Mailing Service. He also sold insurance while with the Heath Agency and continued with the agency after it merged into MBAH Insurance.
Jim was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder, a member of the Deacons and a Trustee. He also served on the Board of Directors of Central Presbyterian Foundation. Committed to community service, Jim held leadership roles with the Home Hospital Foundation, Tippecanoe County Girl Scout Council and Kiwanis at both the local and state levels.
His involvement with Westminster Village is perhaps Jim?s proudest contribution to the community. He was instrumental in bringing Westminster Village to this community. When the original owner of Westminster Village faltered, he and others stepped back in to lead Westminster Village in its reorganization as an independently-owned, self-managed facility. He served multiple terms on the Westminster Village Board of Directors, including terms as President of the Board. He also participated in the creation of the Westminster Village Foundation where he sat on the Board of Directors.
Jim and Jean are survived by their four children: Tom Ransom of Mill Valley, CA, Susan Firth (Rowland) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Carol Ransom of Chicago, Illinois, Bill Ransom (Jennifer) of Bellingham, Massachusetts, and their two granddaughters, Brooks Firth Bard (David) and Leslie Firth. Jim is also survived by his sister, Joan Pejeau of Westlake, Ohio. The family gratefully acknowledges Irene Bolin for her friendship and presence in our father?s life during the last 15 years.
A Memorial service will be held in Lafayette at 1:00pm on Saturday, December 3rd at Central Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. William Smutz officiating. The family will receive friends in the adjacent parlor after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westminster Village Foundation or the Central Presbyterian Foundation. Soller Baker Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements.

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc.

Light a candle Light a candle

See Condolences

I was very saddened to learn of Mr. Ransom&s death. I worked for Jim briefly (clerical - parttime) at MBAH Insurance Co. over 20 years ago. I have thought of him often over the years with the utmost respect. Your family was truly blessed to have had such a wise and caring person amongst you. He was an amazing individual. I&m thankful I had the opportunity to know and work with him, even as briefly as it was. Please accept my condolences for your loss.

With Deepest Sympathy,
Kay Gwin

To the family of Jim Ransom

My sincere sympathy on the loss of your father and grand father. He will be missed. I only saw him once every three weeks or so when I ironed for him and got to know him to be kind and generous and enjoyed working for him.

He talked about his trip to Somerville where I was born (and later moved to Arlington where I was raised). He talked about his grandaughter. I&ve heard Somerville is popular with the young people. He said something about a coffee shop.

I hope that all the happy memories you have help get you through this time.

Sincerely,

Carol Hobaugh

I first met Jim when I workled for Schwab Corp. He was our insurance agent for several years with MBAH. He was always very pleasant and helpful. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to all family members.
Carolyn Miller

I met Jim a year ago when he asked me to help him and his friend Jim Hanks with production of The View newsletter for the Westminster Village Foundation. I admired the way both of them took on the challenge of learning the layout software and managing the details of producing many issues of the newsletter before I got involved.

Jim was very gracious and invited my wife and I to dinner and Westminster activities. Prior to dinner, he and Jim Hanks entertained us in his apartment. They both had many interests, including Civic Theatre, and spoke fondly of their grandchildren.
Jim was obviously very proud of Westminster.

It&s an inspiration to have known him, if only for a year.

Jim was a volunteer here at the Lafayette Police Department and worked in our Property room. He was always such a nice guy and would bring my boss and I a bagel or a donut on his way in.....he was so neat to talk to and I&m very blessed to have met him and worked with him for the last 5 years or so.......I&m so sorry for your loss, we sure are going to miss him here at the PD too!!

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

So many memories of our two families over the years. Wish that we could be there to offer you hugs and condolences in person, but we did want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Phil and Jim enjoyed not only a personal friendship, but a working relationship at MBAH. Our friendship with Jim and Jean often centered around our children&s activities. Your home on Kossuth St. and ours on 18th St. were the center of our lives and good times.

May God bless you all as you celebrate Jim&s life with family and friends. He is well deserving of this celebration.....a life well lived and a good friend and business associate. He will be missed by many!!

Phil and Barb Puterbaugh and Family

Dear Ransom Family,

We are sorry for your loss and are thinking of you at this difficult time. We will forever remember Jim as the kind, cheerful, welcoming and gentlemanly neighbor that he was to us before he moved up to Westminster Village. Our lives in West Lafayette are better and richer for having known Jim and we will miss him.

With best regards,

Jeremy, Ruth, Millie and Harry Marchant Forde

Jim was a member of the VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) program here at the Lafayette Police Department. I had the pleasure of working with him in the Property Room since 2007. Jim always had a smile on his face and a kind word even when he wasn&t feeling well himself. And he always had a story. We will miss him.

Sorry for your loss.

Dear Tom, Susan, Carol and Bill,
Your father was always a gentleman in any situation he was in. As a child I fondly remember your Dad and Mom showing up at our house for an impromtu P.J. party. Your father had a cold so he game in P.J.&s with a hot water bottle strapped to his head. Us kids got a kick out of that. Mom would have come to the memorial service but I&m taking her to my bother&s in South Carolina for the holiday. We share the joy of knowing your father as well as the grief as he is no longer physically with us. Best wishes and prayers, The Mather Family

My deep condolences to Jim&s family and friends. I met him through the LCI Assocation. Every year, I would take my father, who is 90, to the lunch and program. I became Jim&s unofficial photographer. He was always a warm and pleasant man--truly a gentleman and clearly a natural born leader. My father and I will both miss Jim. His sincere efforts and kind gifts of his time were trademarks. We thought the world of him and wish you well. May God Bless all of you.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.