James H. Reeder

James "Jim" Reeder grew up on a farm near Boonsboro on Amos Reeder Road, named for his father who was a Washington County commissioner.

History was important to Jim, known as James by his mother, sister and sister's family. So much so that he invested a lot of time in preserving local history through the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum.

Jim also became known as "Pappy" once his first grandchild, Tara, was born. Jim's grandfather was called "Pap," and when Jim's daughter, Vicki, asked what he would like to be called, Jim chose Pappy.

A 1947 graduate of Boonsboro High School, Jim then served in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina until 1951. While in North Carolina, he met Clara Conner on a blind date.

She was engaged to someone else, but after her date with Jim, she never spoke to that fiance again. Jim and Clara married in 1950, said the couple's only child, Vicki Jagodowski of Lakeville, N.Y.

They lived in North Carolina during the early years of their marriage, then moved back to the family farm in 1956 or 1957, after Vicki was born.

"They had a really good marriage," Vicki said.

Jim got a job with the Maryland Milk Producers Cooperative, first as a field representative and then in marketing. He retired about 20 years ago at age 62.

"Clara didn't want to be a farmer's wife," Vicki said.

Instead, Jim "piddled" with farming. He had animals and an apple orchard, and sold tomatoes as a truck farmer.

Jim had one sister, Virginia Slifer, now deceased. Both he and Virginia built homes on the farm property.

In his retirement, Jim got involved with the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum, where he served on the board and was involved with projects on the property.

"That was his passion," Vicki said.

"He was involved right from the beginning," said Tara Louchery of Hagerstown, the oldest of Jim's four grandchildren. There are four great-grandchildren.

Tara said her grandfather helped with the acquisition of historic buildings and expansion of the museum, including the cabin of Grant and Laura Reeder, where Amos Reeder was born.

Jim's interest in history was a good fit with the museum.

"He was very much a Civil War buff," Vicki said. "He read everything he could on Lincoln."  

She added that they had found bullets back in the fields of the family farm when it was plowed.

The Reeders sold their home on the farm and moved to Ravenwood Lutheran Village in 1999, after Clara became ill. Jim moved several times after her death in 2002, ending up on East Ridge Drive in Hagerstown.

"He bopped around a lot, couldn't get settled," Tara said.

Vicki said her mother, being from the South, was "such a lady" and not as opinionated as her husband.

"He definitely had strong beliefs and stood by them," Vicki said. "He was very much a conservative and very ethical. He loved to talk about politics."

While Jim was respectful of others' opinions, he rarely was swayed from his own.

"He was the ultimate patriarch. He lived that role. He was a good role model," said granddaughter Barett Jagodowski of Rochester, N.Y.

Vicki said her father seemed to benefit from the company of women and had a "lady friend" who he took trips and went out to dinner with.

"That was really good for him," Vicki said of the six to seven years he was with Rhoda Whittington of Hagerstown.   

Jim was a longtime member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Rohrersville, serving on various committees. When the Reeders moved to Hagerstown, he became an associate member at First Christian Church and also attended Mount Zion Lutheran Church at Locust Grove.

"His faith was very important to him," Tara said. "It was one of those things he passed on."

Jim also volunteered with the Washington County Hospital Auxiliary, American Red Cross of Washington County, The Salvation Army and the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. He enjoyed working at The Salvation Army Thrift Store and helping with the Christmas party, his family said.

"He was very active, very involved in things," Tara said

About 3 1/2 years ago, Jim was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had surgery at University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"He had done very well. He pushed himself after surgery. He was walking a couple miles every day," said Vicki, adding that his health declined suddenly at the end.

"Even when it was cold, he would go to Robinwood (Medical Center) to walk," Tara said.

Vicki said her father had a strong work ethic and expected others to work as hard as he did, with little patience for those who didn't.

He also enjoyed an active social life, going out to dinner, often at the Elks Lodge and American Legion, as well as attending class reunions.

Jim was known for his sweet tooth, sense of humor, and the tomatoes, mums and roses he planted, as well as his love of cigars and vintage cars.

His first car in high school was a yellow convertible coupe, purchased with his best friend. Jim's last car was a blue Buick convertible.

Clocks could be set to Jim's retirement tradition of a cocktail at 5 o'clock on the dot — a vodka martini with lime was his drink of choice, his family said.

Jim also enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, stopping by Tara's house daily to give her children a little sweet treat and spend time with them.

"He was very proud of the whole family," Vicki said.

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail runs "A Life Remembered." Each story in this continuing series takes a look back — through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others — at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about James H. Reeder, who died Oct. 18 at the age of 82. His obituary was published in the Oct. 19 edition of The Herald-Mail.