James F. Gniady (Jim) born April 24, 1934, passed away on January 10, 2020. He is survived by his sister Eleanore Riccardi, and sons Mark S. and James S. (& Tim Baldwin), dear friends Carl and Steph Shifflett, and Charmaine Richards, and preceded in death by his wife Claudia and dear friend Johnny Richards. He was a long-time resident of Orange City, Florida, but lived in various places across the United States, including Amsterdam NY, Schenectady NY, Rome NY, Plattsburgh NY, Miami FL, and Cutler Ridge FL.
After retiring from the US Air Force as a radar technician, Jim and his family moved to Miami,FL where he became a TV repairman. His next move would take the family to Cutler Ridge, FL taking on a job as a mechanic at Coral Gables Lincoln Mercury. In 1982 the family moved to Orange City, FL where he worked at DeLand F-L-M. Jim became a letter carrier delivering mail routes in Deltona, FL.
Jim retired from the post office and enjoyed retirement collecting military memorabilia and attending train shows, comic book shows, and air shows. Jim was also known as quite the joker, comedian, and prankster always looking to make you smile and laugh. This could be just by crossing the street to making the entire pew at St. Peter’s Catholic Church shake from laughter.
Jim loved anything to do with airplanes. From flying in commercial airliners to family reunions in Schenectady NY to ride alongside in a T-34 at the Florida Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in DeLand FL. Jim was a huge fan of the Flying Tigers and the iconic P-40 with teeth and had flown in a B-25 Killer Bee.
Memorial services will be held on February 15, 2020 at 1:00 PM at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home with inurnment services and military honors immediately following at Jim's final resting place, Deltona Memorial Gardens.
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