C. James 'Jim' Schultz

Mr. Charles James 'Jim' Schultz, who, with his wife, Erma, owned and operated the Schultz Furniture and Carpeting store in downtown Oberlin for many years, died Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Mercy Hospice Center in Lorain, Ohio. He was 87. Mr. Schultz was born June 24, 1937, in Conneaut, Ohio, and lived most of his life in Northeastern Ohio, graduating from Oberlin High School in 1955. He attended Bowling Green State University and General Motors Institute before transferring to Ohio State University, where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in business. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity at OSU. He served in the National Guard and was briefly called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. Jim was a true aficionado of cars, especially those of the 1950s and '60s – primarily Oldsmobiles, Corvettes and Pontiacs – and devoted much of his free time to restoring them and attending classic auto shows. He also loved boating and water skiing in Lake Erie and its environment, as well as snow skiing and snowmobiling. In the furniture business, he emphasized customer satisfaction and was well known and liked throughout the area. He served on the Oberlin Planning Commission and was a member of the Oberlin Exchange Club. Mr. Schultz is survived by his wife of 63 years, the former Erma Turnbull of Oberlin; two children, Sandra 'Sandy' Habecker (Kris Koepp) of Lorain, and David Schultz (Gretchen) of Bay Village; five grandchildren, Kelly Habecker Queen (Jeff) of Avon, Cory Habecker of Gilbert, Arizona, and Lauren, Katherine, and Eric Schultz, all of Bay Village; and a brother, Lawrence David 'Dave' Schultz (Susan) of Lakeland, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank J. and Mary Elizabeth Schultz (Craft) of Oberlin and Haines City, Florida. At the request of the deceased, a private burial is being planned. Online condolences may be made to http://www.cowlingfuneralhomeoh.com