James Edward Thalman, 74 of St. Clairsville, Ohio died Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling.

He was born in Wheeling on April 14, 1930 a son of the late Henry C. and Catherine Birmingham Thalman.

He graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School in 1948 and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD where he graduated in 1953. He served as a Lieutenant in the Navy in Europe and the Korean War and retired after 20 years as a Blue & Gold officer. He facilitated the appointment of many Ohio Valley Youth with the Naval Academy.

Jim was a lubrication engineer with Chevron Oil and a member of the Association of Lubrication Engineers. He was a member of St. Mary?s Parish in St. Clairsville and was a member of the Holy Name Society.

Jim was a great animal lover and equine enthusiast and he loved spending time at is daughter and son-in-law?s farm.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother William Thalman; a sister, Rosemary Chorovich and an infant brother, Henry Thalman.He is survived by his wife, Kathryn "Kitty" Stuntz Thalman; two daughters, Kathryn Ann Thalman of St. Clairsville and Colleen McConaghy and her husband Drew of St. Clairsville; grandchildren Mary Kathryn McConaghy and Ann Marie McConaghy and his sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Baumler of Buffalo, NY.

Friends will be received on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Toothman Funeral Home, St. Clairsville. Concelebrated Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary?s Catholic Church, St. Clairsville with Father Christopher Foxhoven and Father Thomas Schiffer at co-celebrants. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 182039, Dept. 13, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2039.