James Arthur Bailey, 104, died Aug. 1, 2018, at the Walnut Hills Retirement Center. He was born in Massillon, Ohio, and was the son of the late Arthur Clarence and Bessie Frank Reed Bailey. He married Lois Elizabeth Hostetter on December 31, 1939, and they divorced December 31, 1969. He then married Florence Burd Stevic on May 1, 1976, and they were married until her passing April 1, 2014. He was a member of United Methodist Church of Millersburg.

Mr. Bailey was retired from The Coastland Times newspaper, of Manteo, where he worked for 25 years until February 2007. In the 1950s, after his late son Charlie became a victim of cerebral palsy, he designed numerous pieces of equipment used by individuals, and at many physical and occupational therapy treatment centers today. The most widely used is probably the quad cane (the cane with four feet), which he refused to patent to keep user cost low. Many thousands of people are using his inventions today.

Other occupations include sales positions in steel, new homes, office supplies, auto parts, and tools as well as a brief time repairing small aircraft.

He enlisted in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1943. His military service included duty in England, France, and Okinawa. In 2004, United States Congressman Walter B. Jones presented him with the Jubilee of Liberty medal from the Governor of Normandy, for participation in the invasion and liberation of France. Other medals include 3 battle stars for participation in the European Theater of Operation. In the 1990’s he wrote his war memoirs as “One Man’s War”, a humorous and factual account of his experiences.

He is survived by a son, James Arthur Bailey, Jr., daughters Lois JoAnne Stallman, Judith Ellen Bailey, 5 grandchildren: Scott Allen Stallman, Bethany Ann Stallman, Amy Lynn Bailey Bils, Douglas Arthur Bailey, Ronald Lee Bailey, and many loving great and great-great grandchildren. In addition to these family members, Mr. Bailey was blessed with an extended family of friends and acquaintances on the Outer Banks and Waxhaw, North Carolina, Walnut Hills Retirement Center, and throughout Ohio.

A family memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 5, at 4 p.m. at Spidell Funeral Home in Mt. Eaton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Union United Methodist Church, 6415 New Town Road, Waxhaw, 28173, or United Methodist Church of Millersburg, 5395 Township Road 336, Millersburg, OH, 44654.