James C. Ho ("Jim")
The family of James C. Ho ("Jim") sadly announce that on the afternoon of March 12, 2023 Jim passed away peacefully at home with his wife Cathy and their family at his side. Jim has lived a full and amazing life encompassing a war-torn journey thru China, and then a baby boom fed path to middle America. Jim's life and legacy will be lovingly carried on by his wife of 57 years, Cathy; children, Kenny, Gloria and Emily; spouses, Irene, Tony and John; grandchildren, Noelle, Ava, Xavier, Raina and Reid; and innumerable other close siblings, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. With great joy and out of his own words, Jim can be finally content to be spending time with his loving parents and older siblings next to the Lord our Savior.
Jim was born outside of Shanghai, China in 1934 as the fourth of ten children. Consecutively living thru the Japanese occupation, dealing with the trials and tribulations of World War 2 and escaping from Communist occupied China, Jim had already lived a full life by the time he emigrated to Taiwan in 1949. He is forever grateful to his parents for guiding ten children at a difficult time of global turmoil. It is during this time that he learned that there is no stronger pillar in life than that of the family structure.
After having earned an academic scholarship to East Texas Baptist University in 1953, Jim started a new adventure in the United States culminating in full citizenship by the end of the decade. Finally, as a proud American working in New York, he developed a passion for baseball and the New York Yankees and by the end of the century, Jim had amassed a sizeable collection of baseball collectibles including every single Mickey Mantle baseball card and every single Topps baseball card set since 1952.
After earning his Master's Degree in City Planning from Virginia Tech in 1961, Jim settled to Dover, Delaware where he worked for the Delaware Department of Transportation for almost 50 years. Since the 1960's, he has been a proud and active member of the Dover community. Throughout the years in Delaware, Jim continued to be an avid supporter of the Chinese community and over the years has hosted and sponsored numerous Chinese immigrants to Dover.
Jim had invested a "second" lifetime to become a proud American and Delawarean and despite being disappointed in the 2022 and 2023 Yankees and Eagles, he will forever be a fan. He truly believes that Dover has become the fulcrum for the strong family structure that he and Cathy have accomplished with all his successful children.
A visitation is planned for Jim on Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 12 to 2 pm. The visitation will be at the Torbert Funeral Chapel on 1145 East Lebanon Road. All are invited to attend. The funeral service will follow immediately at 2pm.
People wishing to honor Jim's lifelong commitment to family and the Dover community, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Delaware Hospice; a memorial gift can be made online, over the phone, or via check. Details for donations can be found at www.delawarehospice.org/donate/memorial-gifts/.
For those unable to attend, the funeral services will be recorded and uploaded following services on www.torbertfuneral.com. It can be found under the "Upcoming Livestreams" tab and viewed by clicking on their name.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com