James Elias Hanna Sr.'s Obituary
James Elias Hanna Sr., son of the late Elias and Selima (Saleemee) Hanna, was born on February 25, 1923 in Lorain, Ohio.
He entered eternal life at the age of 92 on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Bowling Green, Ohio following a lengthy illness.
James graduated from Lorain High School in 1941 and enlisted in the US Army Air Force in 1942. In 1945, James Elias Hanna returned to his home in Lorain, Ohio after serving in the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as an Aerial Gunner and Radio Operator from 1942-1945. He completed three phases of flight training and was awarded his air crew wings. As a member of the 15th Air Force, 461st Bombardment Group he was stationed in Cerignola, Italy. He flew 35 combat missions in a B-24 “Liberator” over southern France, Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, Romania, and Austria/Hungary. On July 19, 1944, General Twining awarded the 561st Bombardment Group a War Department Unit Citation for “outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy”. For his distinguished and meritorious service James Elias Hanna was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct medal. After returning home from the service, James worked the night shift at the Yellow Cab Company owned by his father Elias.
In 1948, after James married Mary Rose Ellis, James operated a taxi business called “Lorain Cab” for about a year. In 1950 he worked at the Thew Shovel in Lorain for a short time. In 1951 he was employed at BF Goodrich in Avon Lake, Ohio. He worked there for 36 years as a lab technician in research and development. While their children were growing up James often worked part time jobs in the evenings including pots and pans salesman and shoe salesman. His brother George Hanna owned an ice cream business and James drove an ice cream truck during the summer months. James retired from BF Goodrich in 1987.
James was a member of the former St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church. When St. Michaels closed, James became a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church. He was a member of the American Hungarian Citizens Club where he was the only non Hungarian to receive the "Hungarian Man of the Year" award. He was also a member of the American Lebanese Syrian Club in Lorain, life member of the Knights of St. John and life member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 451 of Lorain.
James was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. James loved to dance with his wife Mary Rose. He and his wife Mary Rose also loved to walk and watch the sunset at Lake View Park in Lorain. Surviving are his daughter Mary Elizabeth Hanna of Bowling Green, Ohio; and sons James Elias (Nancy) Hanna Jr. of South Carolina, Thomas Michael (Kimberly) Hanna of Akron and Daniel Mark (Anita) Hanna of Lorain; grandchildren, Katherine (Ryan) McDonald, Brittany (Jared) Mazzei and Alyse Hanna; great grandchildren, Taylor Seaholm, Kayla and Liah McDonald, and Lincoln Mazzei; step granddaughters, Shannon Holtmann and Brianna Roberts.
Besides his parents, James was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Rose (Ellis) Hanna in 2010; and son, Richard Ellis Hanna in 1985; and his siblings, Rose, John, Lena, Ann, June, Jeanette, Frieda, George, Joyce and Norman.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, where a Parastas will be conducted at 7:00 pm. Panachida will be Thursday, December 10th. at 9:30 am in the funeral center followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 2711 West 40th Street, Lorain. The Very Reverend Nicholas R. A. Rachford, J.C.L., pastor will officiate. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain. Military honors will be conducted by the US Army and the Veterans of Foreign War Post 451 of Lorain.
Family and Friends my leave condolences online at www.dovinreberjones.com
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