James "Jim" R. Ronshausen

James R. "Jim" Ronshausen, 91, of Cambridge, died Wednesday (January 26, 2011) at Red Carpet Health Care Center, Cambridge. He was born November 8, 1919 in New Matamoras OH, son of the late James Austin Ronshausen and Ella May (Payton) Ronshausen. Mr. Ronshausen was a lifelong innovator in the oil and gas industry. He and his father established JA Ronshausen & Son Drilling. They were the first company to drill wells in southeastern Ohio, including fifty-three wells in Guernsey County some of which supplied gas to the former Cambridge Glass Plant. He later founded Fairdale Drilling. He then operated Westland Minerals and Rayco Drilling. He also operated Southgate Auto Sales and Treasure Island Marine for many years. He was a seventy-year member of the First Christian Church of Cambridge, where he also served as a deacon. Mr. Ronshausen served in the United States Air Force from 1941 to 1945, earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was an airplane mechanic and later served as a supervisor in that department. While in the military, he attended Yale University with honors. In the 1960s, he served as the Sergeant at Arms for the State of Ohio Senate. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Kenneth and Edwin. He is survived by his wife, Betty (Thomas) Ronshausen, whom he married September 20, 1942; three sons, Brent (& Claudia) Ronshausen of Pataskala, Bob Ronshausen of Zanesville, and Brad (& Misty) Ronshausen of Cambridge; four daughters, Connie (& Michael) Lang of Buckeye Lake, Kay Nicolozakes of Cambridge, Betty Carol (& Michael) Paden of Grove City, and Jeri (& Brad) Whiteleather of Parkersburg WV; fifteen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. Family and friends may call on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Cambridge. Funeral services will be held Monday (January 31, 2011) at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 1127 Beatty Avenue, Cambridge, with Pastor Dave Brown officiating. Burial will be at Northwood Cemetery, Cambridge, with military graveside services conducted by the Guernsey County Veterans Council.