James Burke "Jim" O'Brien, Junior93, of Harvest Hill, passed away on March 27th, 2012 at the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. His loving wife, Blanche J. O'Brien, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his three children and their spouses: James Burke O'Brien, III and wife Cathy Lines of Denver, Colorado, Kathleen O'Brien Snyder and husband Robert E. Snyder of Etna, New Hampshire, Maureen O'Brien Gearin and husband John M. "Mike" Gearin of Cincinnati, Ohio; and grandchildren: Michael O'Brien Snyder, 26, and wife Sarah Kate Snyder, Christopher O'Brien Snyder, 24, James Burke O'Brien, IV, 24, Kathleen O'Brien Gearin, 23, John O'Brien "Brien" Gearin, 21, Elizabeth O'Brien Snyder, 20, Sean Patrick O'Brien, 20, and Molly O'Brien Gearin, 15.

Jim was born on August 5, 1918, to Esther Peterson O'Brien and James Burke O'Brien, Senior, in Sistersville, West Virginia. He had one younger sister, Mary Ellen O'Brien Purkrabek, by whom he is also survived.

Jim spent his early life in Java, Mexico, and Venezuela before returning to the United States to complete his elementary education. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and went on to receive a Bachelor's degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1941. Inspired by the events at Pearl Harbor, Jim enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre of War from 1942 to 1946. He was called back into service during the Korean War, and was stationed in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Following World War II, Jim met his future wife, Blanche, while working for United Airlines in Cleveland, Ohio. They were married in 1948 at St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in Berea, Ohio, where they remained to raise their children. They had a close-knit group of friends with whom they enjoyed much companionship over the years. Jim retired in 1981 after a dedicated career in the manufacturing industry, and moved to the Upper Valley after his wife passed away.

Jim enjoyed writing heartfelt letters, reading the Wall Street Journal, and socializing with his many dear friends at Harvest Hill, where he resided from 2005 to 2012. His deepest devotion, however, was to Blanche, his beloved wife of 53 years. He cherished his roles as "Dad" to his three children and as "GP" to his eight grandchildren who will miss him dearly and will lovingly remember him for his kind-hearted nature and cheerfulness.

The family greatly appreciates the compassionate and professional staff at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and at Alice Peck Day Hospital who provided such wonderful care and comfort to Jim during the past two months.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 31st at 1pm at St. Denis Catholic Church in Hanover. Please join Jim's family for a reception beginning at 2:30pm in the Garden Room at Harvest Hill. A private burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brook Park, Ohio, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory may be made to the

http://bit.ly/JamesOBrienJr" target="_blank" >Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Southwest Ohio Chapter
8050 Hosbrook Road, Suite 314
Cincinnati, OH, 45236

or online at: http://bit.ly/JamesOBrienJr" target="_blank" >http://bit.ly/JamesOBrienJr