James F. "Topgun" Derry

James F. “Topgun” Derry , age 97, passed away Saturday, October 22, 2022 at home. He was born on August 11, 2022 in Forest Park, IL to Clarence and Florence (nee Hoppert) Derry. A veteran of WWII and the Korean War, he graduated from Northwestern University and Akron University with degrees in chemical engineering.

Upon graduating from Northwestern, Jim was hired by Goodyear and moved to Akron, where he met and married his beloved wife, Meredith. They became the parents of four children. After his retirement from Goodyear, Jim and Meredith enjoyed many vacations in the U.S. and abroad, as well as spending as much time as possible with their grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Meredith; and his son, Dave. James is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in memory of James may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/cleveland/donate or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/donate/.

A committal service for Mr. and Mrs. Derry will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, November 10th at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, OH 44273.  Please meet at the front gate.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory Fairlawn Chapel,  85 N Miller Road,  Akron, OH 44333