Tag Archives: William R James (1933-2018)

Obituary, William Ramsay James

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William Ramsay James was born on October 6, 1933 in South Bend, Indiana. He passed peacefully on October 21, 2018 surrounded by his family, having only days earlier celebrated his 85th birthday.

“Bill” was a graduate of Cranbrook School, matriculating to Princeton University where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. After serving his country as a pilot in the United States Air Force, gaining the rank of Lieutenant and being honorably discharged, Bill continued his education by receiving an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Bill’s business career was wide and varied, starting as an engineer for Ford Motor Company, and moving onto CPA giant Touche Ross (now DeLoitte & Touche) where he was named a partner. Bill then was recruited by Capital Cities Communications, where he was named General Manager at various media operations, including radio superstation WJR of Detroit. Bill then created and grew Capital Cities’ very successful Cable Television Division, until it was sold to the Washington Post, due to regulatory restrictions, when Capital Cities purchased the American Broadcast Corporation (ABC). Bill then founded and operated his own cable television company, James Communications, for many years.

In his spare time Bill served on the Board of Directors for AAA, and as Chairman of the Board of Beaumont Hospital.

Bill leaves his wife of 63 years Jane (Mehrer); children Martha Quay (John), and William James (Babette); grandchildren Courtney Quay Gardiner (Alexander); James Quay, John Quay, William James, and Harry James; as well as great grandchildren Jane, Quay, and Price Gardiner. All will miss him dreadfully.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, December 1st at 10:00 AM at Christ Church Cranbrook to celebrate a life well lived. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be sent to Beaumont Health Foundation in support of their Nursing Education and Training Fund, P.O. Box 5802, Troy, MI, 48007.

Source: Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan): Sunday, 25 November 2018: page A28.

W. R. James Married at Cranbrook

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Christ Church at Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was the scene of the wedding of Jane Courtney Mehrer daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold George Mehrer, of Bloomfield Hills, and William Ramsay James, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Stubbs James of Birmingham, Mich., formerly of South Bend. The service took place at 4:30 o’clock Dec. 29 with Rev. Perry Williams, pastor of the church, officiating.

Miss Martha Mehrer was maid of honor for her sister and Miss Barbara Mason and Miss Ann Benjamin, of Detroit, and Miss Nancy Holmes and Miss Audrey Braun, of Bloomfield Hills, were bridesmaids. Robert Womsley, of Dayton O. acted as best man. Ushers included William Aikens and Michael Shallcross, of Birmingham; John Colwell, of Flint, Mich.; Robert Walters of Detroit, and Richard Taber, of East Lansing, Mich.

The bride wore ivory pure silk peau de soie, fashioned in empire style. A band of delustered satin embroidered with seed pearls formed a square neckline and extended down the back in two panels to form a chapel train. A juliet cap of heirloom lace held in place the fingertip veil of ivory illusion. She carried a bouquet of phaelanopsis orchids and lily of the valley.

Full princess frocks of jade green velveteen made with square necklines were worn by the bride’s attendants. They had tiny calot hats of matching jade velveteen and carried cascade bouquets of gardenias. Mary and Jacki Wells, nieces of the bridegroom, wore short bouffant dresses of jade velveteen and carried small baskets filled with rose petals.

A reception was held in Orchard Lake Country Club, after which Mr. and Mrs. James left for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to spend three weeks. They will be at home at 29 Yarboro Rd., Bloomfield Hills. The bride is a graduate of Kingswood School, Cranbrook, and Bennet Junior College, Millbrook, N. Y. Her husband is a graduate of Cranbrook School and Princeton, N. J.

Source: The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana): 06 January 1956: page 20.