James Edwin York

James Edwin York, 89, of South Bend passed away at 5:09 a.m. Tuesday, March 16th in Elkhart General Hospital.  Jim was born July 17, 1931 in Mishawaka to the late Martha (Accoe) and James H. York and was a lifetime area resident.  On August 26, 1950 in Mishawaka he married Elaine Plew who preceded him in death April 4, 2005.  He is survived by his son, Patrick A. York (Cindy) of Osceola; one grandson, Jamie E. York (Jennifer Silvers) of Mishawaka; two great-grandchildren, Kaelyn Hathaway and Watson Silvers; his brother, Thomas York (Mary Lou) of Whitesburg, TN; and his companion, Ann Lockmondy.

     After Jim’s honorable discharge from the Air Force he worked at the Studebaker Corporation for a short time and then moved on to The Bendix Corporation where he retired after 42 years of service.  He enjoyed fishing and automobile racing, specifically sprint car racing.  He was a founding member of Michiana Vintage Racers and loved to collect racing memorabilia dating back to the Playland Park days and up to the present.  He was also a long time voting board member of the Michiana Racers Hall of Fame.  Jim was a big Notre Dame football, basketball, and hockey fan as well as his favorite Chicago Cubs.  He loved spending time with the great-grandbabies.  Kaelyn always made him smile and laugh.  Jim was a wonderful, much loved, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.

     Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 24th in the Palmer Funeral Home – Welsheimer North Chapel, 17033 Cleveland Rd.  Committal services and entombment with military honors will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger.  The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 23rd.

     Memorial contributions in Jim’s name may be made to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, 2506 Grape Rd., Mishawaka, IN, 46545, (office@humanesocietystjc.org).  Family and friends may leave email condolences at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

9/6/2021 EJS