James Edward Trent

In November of 1925, Melvin and Louise Trent, of Salem, VA, had their first child, James Edward. He became big brother to Eugene and then to June. As Jim grew up, his first job was a bicycle newspaper delivery boy. He earned money so he could take the train to visit his maternal grandparents in the summer. He would help them on their farm, and take the horse-drawn wagon into town to sell the vegetables from their garden. He especially loved picking and eating the cherries from the cherry tree with his granddad. In high school, he began helping out in the mining machine shop where his father worked. But while Jim enjoyed working, he did not enjoy studying, which caused him to fall behind. However, when his younger brother was about to graduate, Jim pulled it together and was able to graduate with him. After graduating from high school, Jim joined the Navy Construction Battalion (SeaBees) in 1944. He became a Carpenter's Mate and enjoyed the work and social life on Guam, but was very homesick for his family. The war ended and Jim was honorably discharged on May 26, 1946. He earned the Victory Medal, American Area Campaign medal and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal. Arriving home, Jim went back to work at the mining machine shop. Over the next few years, he had several jobs before getting hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an inspector. He retired in 1987 after 35 years of service. Soon after being discharged, Jim went to a movie being shown at the local high school. That's where he met Josphine (Jo) Smith, whom he married on October 23, 1948. They had two girls, Brenda Gail on Jan. 25, 1951, and -SURPRISE- 14 years later along comes Barbara Annette on Jan. 10, 1965 (a long awaited answer to Brenda's prayers for a baby brother or sister). Jim and Jo were wonderful parents and loved their daughters, but both girls became their daddy's shadow, following him around everywhere. Jim taught his girls to play badminton, croquet, softball, and basketball. He also taught them how to fish. Or, at least how to enjoy the quiet time together, eating Vienna sausages and saltines while waiting for the fish to bite. He and Jo would also play board games of all kinds with their girls. All was great until they found out Jo had leukemia in October of 1966. She died on Jan. 27, 1967. The next few years were rough, as Jim became a single parent and eventually started dating. In 1969, he married Reva Gilmore, and they were married for 42 years before she passed away peacefully in her sleep in July of 2012. Jim relocated eight times during his 35 years with the Corps, finally landing in New Philadelphia, Ohio in 1980, where he retired. During his 35 years in New Philly, Jim became active in his church and his community. At First Baptist Church of New Philadelphia, Jim was a deacon and a member of the choir. He helped on the Sunday school bus routes, where he was known for giving out Tic-Tacs and smiley face stickers. He helped with the binding of bibles the church printed and sent to Russia. He was active in his own Sunday school/ life class. Because one of his nieces had Down's Syndrome, he enjoyedworking in the Good Sheperd class for people with disabilities. And, he cleaned and polished the church floors twice a week and the school floors daily when in session. He made some life-long friends there that meant the world to him. In the communiy, he started volunteering at Starlight Enterprises, an organization dedicated to the development of person with disabilities. He went even further and became a board member of The Tuscarawas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilitites in 1990. For the next 10 years, he worked to make needed changes to better serve people with disabilities, including the building of an expanded campus for Starlight Enterprises. Jim was Mr. Fixit, making sure his home and property were well-maintained. He had a green thumb when it came to flowers and tomato plants. Many friends looked forward to receiving Jim's home-grown tomatoes all summer long. He was an amateur builder and carpenter, who did a variety of projects throughout the years, such as tiny wood pliers, desks, a mantle clock, a grandfather clock, a cargo trailer and additions to houses. While moving to Daytona Beach in 2015 at 89 years of age was a hard thing to do, Jim never looked back. He loved living in sunny, warm Florida. He would take his buddy, Melvin, (his Boston Terrier) on walks around the neighborhood, stopping and talking to all whom he passed. He was also able to visit with his sister and her children's families several times a year as they were only a couple hours away now. Jim and June were like two peas in a pod, having some of the same manerisms and looking practically like twins. He enjoyed those visits tramendously. Finding a church home was the first thing he and Barbie did after moving to Daytona Beach. After trying out a couple of churches, they knew Hope Lutheran Church was the church home for them and Jim was a faithful member. He participated in the men's bible study thanks to some wonderful volunteers who drove him there and back. He helped with Trunk or Treat, and Living Nativity, playing the part of Joseph wonderfully. He loved his church family, and they loved him. Jim is survived by: his 2 daughters, Brenda and Barbie (Alan); his five grandchildren, Curtis (Heather), Christy, Brandon, Stephen, Cameron; his 2 great grandchildren, Nick (Jamie) and Cassidy; his 2 great-great grandchildren, Abel and Everett; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral Services will be at 12 NOON, Saturday, January 29, 2022 at DW Swick Funeral Home New Boston. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Military Honors. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services Saturday, at the funeral home.