HOWARD – James B. Puster, 84, of Howard, formerly of Norton and Tallmadge, passed away Tuesday evening, June 8, 2021, at his home. He was born on April 25, 1937, in Akron to the late Joseph and Helen (Prachar) Puster.
Jim graduated in 1956 from Norton High School, where he was a four-sport, four-year letterman. He was the captain of the football team in 1955 and class president in 1956. Jim was inducted into the Norton High School “Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame” in 2015. He served as president of the Norton’s All Sports Boosters. After graduation, Jim honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Midway for four years. He returned to his old high school in 1960 to be the baseball coach, and he helped with the football team. Jim drove trucks for General Tire and later BC Machine in Barberton.
Jim was a member of Saint Luke Catholic Church in Danville, the Knights of Columbus Council 910 and the John Baptist Lamey Assembly 2970, where he was the Knight of the Year in 2019. He volunteered his time and talents to many organizations over the years, including the National Invention Center in Akron, the Knox County Health Department, the East Knox Loins Club, the Commanders Club-DAV, the Summit County Historical Society and Knights of Columbus fish fries.
He is survived by his wife, Annette M. (Huber); sons, James (Cheryl) Puster of Tallmadge and Todd (Judy) Puster of Streetsboro; grandchildren, Emily, Meghan, Zachary and Nathaniel; sisters, Jean Ann Witzman of California and Linda (David) Batdorff of South Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy (De Mali) Puster.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, at Saint Luke Catholic Church, with the Rev. Father Homer Blubaugh as the Celebrant. Burial will follow in Saint Luke Cemetery, with military honors. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Mass at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate a pint of blood to your local blood bank in Jim’s memory.
To share a memory or send the family an expression of sympathy, visit snyderfuneralhomes.com.
The Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of James B. Puster.
