James W. "Bill" McPherson, Jr., age 87, of Hartville, Ohio, died on October 11, 2008. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on October 25, 1920. He graduated from Atwater (Ohio) High School in 1938 and attended Kent State University before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. As a technical sergeant in VMF 422, he served in the Pacific Theater (Marshall Islands) until his honorable discharge in 1945. After the war, Bill received his L.L.B. from George Washington Law School, Washington, D.C., in 1949. While attending law school, he served two years as a U.S. Capitol Police Force officer. He was admitted to practice before the courts of Washington, D.C., the State of Ohio, and U.S. Supreme Court. He served his clients well from 1949 to his retirement in 1992. He was Stark County's first Domestic Relations Court Referee from 1956 to 1959, served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, and served as Village Solicitor for Hartville from 1958 to 1970. Throughout the years, Bill was active in the affairs of his community. He was past President of the Marlboro Lions Club, and held membership in the Hartville Lions Club, Stark County Historical Society, Canton Art Institute, and Kent State University President's Club. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Hartville Fire Department, Hartville Friends of the Library, Hartville Charitable Area Community Trust, and Stark County Civic Opera. A lifelong Republican, he was a Central Committeeman for the Ohio Republican Party. He also maintained extensive professional affiliations, including the American, Ohio, and Stark County Bar Associations; American and Ohio Land Title Associations; Delta Theta Phi Fraternity; and Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He served as an Executive Committee Member of the Stark County Bar Association, Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation, and Board Member of the Ohio Bar Title Insurance Company. An avid golfer with eight holes-in-one to his credit, Bill was a long-time member of Congress Lake Club and one of five Hartville businessmen to develop and build the popular Seven Hills Country Club in 1971. Bill was also involved in local real estate development and oil and gas exploration projects. On trips with his wife and family, he traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and around the globe. A preacher's son, Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Reverend James W. and Helen Rose McPherson, and four sisters, Christine Gopp, Kathryn Weigang, Shirley Lanzer, and Marian Cobb. He is survived by his wife, Bea Shaheen McPherson; children Marena L. McPherson of Chicago, Illinois; Cheryl M. Loden (and husband Carl) of Richmond, Virginia; and James W. McPherson III of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Cory, Kevin (and wife Kathy), Brian, and Randy; and many nieces and nephews. Services will be conducted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Noon at Marlboro Christian Church in Marlboro, Ohio with the Reverends Eric Crites and Edward Harnish officiating. The family will receive friends two hours before the service at the church. Burial will be at Marlboro Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Marlboro Christian Church Building Fund (9383 Edison St., Marlboro, OH, 44601), the Kent State University Foundation (James W. McPherson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o KSU, 120 Kent Student Center, Kent, OH 44242), or The Benjamin Rose Institute (11900 Fairhill Rd., #300, Cleveland, OH 44120-1053). Bill was the great grand nephew of Mr. Rose. The Arnold Funeral Home is providing the arrangements. For more information, please call 330-877-9364 or visit www.arnoldfuneralhome.com