James Frank Shemas

James Frank Shemas, 93, passed peacefully into eternal life on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, surrounded by family. Jim was born in Peoria, Illinois, January 23, 1918, to Frank Shemas, a candy maker, and his wife Melvina, a seamstress, both Lebanese immigrants to the U.S. The young family moved to Toledo, Ohio, where Jim and his siblings Elsie, Rose, Nick and Elaine grew up in a close-knit Lebanese-Syrian community in the North End. The eldest of 5 children, Jim went to work as a teenager to help support the family when his father died in 1932. This event in his life helped to form a strong work ethic, which Jim passed on to his own children. Jim recalled fondly his childhood years in the North End playing sports at the Friendly Center where he developed life-long friendships. As a youth, Jim excelled in academics and theatre at Woodward High School. His typecast lead role in Cyrano de Bergerac was legendary. Jims law school studies were interrupted by WWII, where he proudly served in the European Theater as intelligence officer with the U.S. Army Air Corp, achieving Captain rank. With peace came a return to Toledo where he completed studies and earned his law degree at the University of Toledo. He was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1947, and began practicing law with Virgil Clark on Miami St. in East Toledo. To complete his life, Jim met and thereafter married Emily Margaret Mansour of Huntington, WV, on June 11, 1950. Jim and Emily celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this year. Together they have raised 5 children Constance, Michael, Christine, George, and David. Jims law practice was in the areas of probate and estate planning, real estate law and income tax preparation. He remained with Virgil, then Ed Clark and Peggy Weisenberger for 50 years. In 1997, Jim joined his son-in-law Joe Thomson in a law practice on Secor Road, and they later joined with the firm of Balk, Hess Miller in 2003. Jim actively practiced law for 64 years until July 2011 when, at age 93, he decided it was finally time to retire and spend more time with his wife Emily. Jim was highly regarded among the bench and bar of the Toledo law community as exemplifying the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct. His word was his bond. Jims entire life revolved around his family, his church St. Elias, and a rich history of Lebanese culture in Toledo. Jim helped to found the modern St. Elias and Jim served his church in many capacities including being ordained a Subdeacon. Jim loved music, and served as Chanter and choir director. He also served as member of the board, St. Ignatius, and Midwest SOYO President. His trip to Damascus, Syria, with Metropolitan Philip and other clergy to visit the Patriarch remained one of his most memorable experiences. Jim is survived by the love of his life Emily, children Michael Pamela of Magnolia, AR; Christine George Shemas Darah of Sylvania, Ohio; George Valerie of Dublin, OH; David of Tuscon, AZ; and son-in-law Joe Thomson; grandchildren John, Grace, Aaron, Olivia, Christopher and Sophie; sisters Rose William, Sr. Darah and Elaine George; sister-in-law Sally Shemas; and many devoted nieces and nephews. His daughter Constance Shemas Thomson and siblings Nick Shemas and Elsie Kaleel, predeceased. Visitation will be held at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. west of Corey Rd, Toledo, OH on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with Trisagion Prayers at 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 10:00 a.m., St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4940 Harroun Rd, Sylvania, OH, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Warren presiding, followed by interment at Toledo Memorial Park. Donations may be made in Jims memory to the St. Elias Orthodox Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com. Memory eternal thou good and faithful servant.