James L. Oughterson, 73, of Washington Court House, died Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 3:32 p.m. at Hospice of Central Ohio at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus where he had been a patient 12 days.
Jim was born January 31, 1947, in Auburn, NY to Leon Ellis and Thelma Rose Murdock Oughterson. He was a 1965 graduate of Cortland (NY) High School; received a Bachelor of Arts degree in in history and economics from Wilmington College in 1969, and a Master’s Degree in education and social studies from the State University of Cortland. He moved to Washington Court House in August, 1969.
He began his teaching career at Jeffersonville Elementary School as a history teacher. He then served as principal of Bloomingburg Elementary School for seven years before becoming assistant superintendent for the Miami Trace Local Schools, a position he held for the next seven years. In 1992, he was named superintendent of Caldwell Exempted Schools and held that position until his retirement in 2002.
Jim was a member and past master of Bloomingburg Lodge F. & A.M. #449 and was the recipient of the Bloomingburg Lodge Builders Award. In 2015, he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the 8th Ohio Masonic District and was a past president of the 8th Masonic District Officers Association. He was 32nd Degree Mason, Valley of Columbus and was honored with their prestigious Meritorious Service Award. He served as president of the 32nd Degree Masons of Fayette County for many years. He was also a member of Aladdin Temple Shrine in Columbus, Washington Shrine Club and Irish Council #67 of Knight Masons of the USA. He had been a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; was a past president and longtime secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Washington Court House and was the recipient of both the George F. Hixon and Walter Zeller Fellowships. He served over 30 years as chairman of the Kiwanis fair gate ticket sales project and was presented with the Fayette County Fair Support Award in 2015, by the Fayette County Agricultural Society, for his longtime service and dedication to the fair gate project. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis Division 10-W during the 1990-1991 Kiwanis administrative year. He was a past member of the board of directors of Hospice of Fayette County, Inc. He received the 2012 Citizen of the Year award from the Record-Herald. While in Caldwell, Ohio, he was a member and past president of the Caldwell Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Daniel Oughterson.
Jim is survived by his wife, the former Kay Lynn Bush whom he married March 22, 1991; a daughter, Jamie Kirby of Xenia, Ohio; two step daughters, Lorre Black and Kerri Black and a granddaughter, Peyton Black, all of Washington Court House; a sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Daniel Murray of Lakeville, MA; a sister-in-law, Bobbi Oughterson of Scottsdale, AZ and several nieces and nephews.
A Masonic service, followed by a memorial service, will be held when Covid-19 conditions permit.
A private burial was held Monday, December 21, 2020, at 10 a.m. in the New Holland Cemetery with the Illustrious James Teeters, 33rd Degree Mason with the Valley of Columbus, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bloomingburg Lodge #449, c/o David Krupla, 18 East High Street, Jeffersonville, Ohio 43128 or Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.
www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com