James F. Tambling

August 29, 1933 - June 2, 2001

   James Fremont Tambling, 67, of Gainesville, FL, formerly of Fort Myers, FL, died on June 2, 2001.

   Born to the late Charles F. and Audrey Crossett Bixby Tambling in Leominster, Massachusetts, on August 29, 1933. He moved from Massachusetts to Flint, Michigan, with his mother and step father to attend high school, after which he served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Tingey during the Korean War. After his Navy service he returned to Flint to serve as a teller at Citizens Bank, where he met Wilma Faye Layne, his future wife. They married in 1955, having their first son, Kevin,  in 1959. In 1963, the second son, Kent, was born. In 1967, Rodney, their third son, arrived. Jim was Assistant Vice President of Citizens Bank in Flint, Michigan, before moving his family to Fort Myers, Florida, where he served as Vice President of Lee County Bank in 1969. Their fourth son, Randall, was born in Florida in 1969. In 1973, the last son, Brett, was born. Jim left banking in 1972 to start his building business, Tambling Homes, Inc., constructing residential homes in the Fort Myers area. He was later a sales manager for Captran, a real estate company selling time shares. In the years following he sold cars and trucks for Gulf Coast Dodge and Bill Branch Chevrolet, before moving to Gainesville, Florida, in 1991, where he continued working in automobile sales. His health began to deteriorate, due to his Diabetes, resulting in the loss of his right lower leg. He spent several months each year in the V.A. Hospital, undergoing heart bypass, and leg bypass surgery. Despite this difficulty, every day he helped with his two sons’ Internet business, taking care of their books and billing, and riding his motorized cart to the business and to the bank each day from his apartment several blocks away.

   Mr. Tambling was an active member for many years in the Jaycees, the Elks, the V.F.W. and the Shriners. He was also active in politics, chairing election committees for candidates in Michigan and Florida. He received many awards and citations for his community service.

   He is survived by his five sons, Kent Tambling and Brett Tambling of Gainesville, Florida; Kevin Tambling and Randall Tambling of Fort Myers, Florida; and Rodney Tambling and wife Andrea of Atlanta, Georgia. Also surviving are his former wife, Wilma Faye Layne, and her brother Ronald Layne and family of Fort Myers, Florida, other in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceeded in death by his brothers Larry and John Tambling.

   A memorial service was held by the immediate family in Gainesville. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.