James "Bill" Ochs

James William Ochs passed away on December 25, 2015, at Freedom Village, in Holland, MI. He had reached the age of 93. He will be laid to rest in Charlevoix's Brookside Cemetery, next to his wife, Marion Griffin Ochs, who predeceased him.  A memorial service will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix, the Reverend Michael Ochs officiating.

Jim (Bill) Ochs was born to Mildred (Shockley) and Harley Ochs in Charlevoix on June 1, 1922. The first 20 years were spent growing up in Charlevoix where he was known as Bill. He always remembered the activities, education, woods, beach, water and snow that have always been part of Charlevoix.

While in his second year of college, the U.S. entered WWII. He now became Jim when he was drafted into the army as a private. After basics, he was sent to Photo School in New York City, then to the Army Special Training Program at Princeton University. He was transferred to the 26th Infantry Division, which was in the first convoy from the U.S to go directly to France, landing on Utah Beach. The division battled in France, entered the Battle of the Bulge, then went across Germany to the Czech border, then south to the Danube River and Linz, Austria. He was very proud of his service to his country.

After the war, he completed his degree in accounting at Michigan State. He married Marion Griffin in 1950, and enjoyed his marriage until her death in 2004. He was employed by Ford Motor Company for 27 years, retiring in 1980. They had several years of travel in the U.S. and abroad, including several cruises. They had retirement homes in Charlevoix and Singer Island, FL until 1998, when they moved to the Freedom Village retirement community in Holland.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother Frank Ochs, as well as bothers-in-law Dick and Jack Griffin and sisters-in-law Grace Dickinson and Helen Byce. He is survived by brothers-in-law Jim Byce and Joe (Mary Margaret) Dickinson; sisters-in-law JoAnn and Edie Griffin; and many nieces and nephews on Marion's side of the family; and nephew John (Lani) Ochs, and their children Tom (Carol) and Michael Ochs and grandchildren Hannah and Grace; and niece Virginia Ochs (Micheal) Walton and their son Michael (Heather) Walton and grandson Nathan.

Memorials can be sent to the Charlevoix Area Hospital, 14700 Lakeshore Drive, Charlevoix, MI 49720; or the Wounded Warrior Project.