James K. McLaughlin 1926-2024

Born Jan. 7, 1926, in Youngstown, he was the eighth of 10 children of Michael Vincent and Elizabeth McEvoy McLaughlin.

A World War II veteran, Jim initially served at Army Air Force bases in Arizona and New Mexico before heading overseas with the 20th Air Force to the Pacific Theater. He earned recognition for parachuting from a crashing B-25 Mitchell bomber.

After the war, he earned an electrical engineering degree from Youngstown College, now Youngstown State University. With his passion for math and physics, and creative applications of both, Jim holds several patents relating to commercial induction heating technology.

He married fellow YSU grad, “the love of his life,” Mary Agnes Hatagan, and they were married for 66 years until she died in 2018. Together they had four children, Elizabeth, Kris, Jim (Lynda Henry) and Patricia (Neil Widerschein).

The couple traveled the world as Jim’s engineering career took him to many parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, New Zealand and Australia. Special memories included the challenges and excitement of the early days of international passenger flights before the age of jet travel. They visited both Alaska and Hawaii in 1959, the year each became states, on their many trips to Japan. Their travels took them to countries not easily accessed in the ’50s and ’60s, including Russia, Turkey, India and China — and into Transylvania in present-day Romania to meet Mary Agnes’ uncle and relatives.

In the ’80s, the couple moved to London when Jim was named managing director (chairman) of U.K. operations for his company. They later retired to Arizona, living there for more than 25 years until returning to Ohio. During these years, they researched family history as members of many genealogical clubs.

A loving grandfather, Poppy was very proud of his “wonderful” grandchildren, Brooke (Isaac Charette) Widerschein in Columbus, Kelly Widerschein in San Francisco, California, and Mark Widerschein (Taylor Daly) in Arlington, Virginia.

He also leaves behind his sister, Jeanne McLaughlin Foley in Youngstown and many relatives in his extended family.

A committal service for Jim will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in the Calvary Cemetery Chapel, 248 S. Belle Vista Ave.

Arrangements handled by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel.

(special notice)