James Layton

Obituary of James T. Layton

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James Thomas Layton, a man of tremendous integrity and generosity died on Monday, January 27, 2025, after nearly 91 years of living an extraordinary and happy, happy life. He worked for the same company, RBC Bearings Inc. for an astonishing 71 years and was the father of four children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, all of whom adored him and looked up to him.

Born in 1934 to a seamstress and truck driver, he led an improbable life: at 18 he cleaned the factory floors and rose through the ranks to become a top sales executive, securing multi-million dollar contracts with the nation’s largest defense companies. He traveled throughout Europe with his family, bought a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and at age 85 attended a packed arena in Philadelphia with his children to see Bob Seger’s last live performance. His greatest moments were with his children and their families and he could not stop himself from sharing their successes with anyone within earshot.

He grew up in Bordentown, N.J. with his parents, sister Jeanne, brother Jackie and their boxer Biff. The Laytons occasionally took in borders - young military families, some of whom became lifelong friends. The home was just 11 miles from Fort Dix in Burlington County,  a permanent Army post that started in 1939, but became a separation center for returning soldiers after World War II.

Inspired by the mens’ adventures, Jim enlisted in the Army at age 20 and served two years in the 75th Regimental Combat Team on Okinawa, Japan. He could recall his service with amazing specificity until his death: the bark of Sgt. Clancy at basic training in Fort Dix when he pulled his rifle trigger too fast. The endless sea on the monthlong journey from Seattle to Okinawa.

The grainy movies from those days were a family treasure. Jim, 5 foot 10 and 155 pounds was devastatingly handsome with jet black hair, blue eyes and a killer smile. It earned him an unforgettable nickname, the Tiger of Okinawa.

When he returned from service, he met the love of his life, Patricia O’Malley Fernholz, a fiery redhead at the top of her class, with a hearty laugh, big plans and great legs. Pat was swept off her feet, but was disappointed Jim did not try to kiss her on the first date, a shrewd calculation that paid great dividends.

They married on Nov. 21 in 1959, after Jim converted to Catholicism for his devout bride. Barb and Jim Jr. were born in Bordentown. The growing family then headed to Hamilton Township, lured by new Cape Cods with pretty yards selling for $12,000. Mary Jo and Pam arrived, requiring the services of Uncle Addison, a carpenter to build out the second floor.

Over the years, the Layton family settled into the rhythm of Irish Catholic suburban life in the 60s and 70s. At family dinner, the conversation focused on school assignments, sports and scouts, politics, current events and much laughter - always laughter. Pat kept the house humming while working full time. After religious education classes on Saturday mornings, she doled out the cleaning  assignments, reinforcing the value of hard work and pulling your weight. She once ordered Barbara back into the bathroom to clean further because you could not possibly kill germs in five minutes. Pat loved Sunday Mass and made sure her brood was spiffed up and attentive. Jim was a successful convert, except when he barreled recklessly out of the church parking lot when the New York Giants kicked off at 1 p.m. 

Another daily ritual anchored the couple. Cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. A gin and tonic in summer, a Manhattan in winter, moments never to be interrupted by children or mundane logistics. They just talked. And talked. For years, they would say these moments were the key to their long and loving marriage.

All the while, Jim’s career was thriving. The teenager who cleaned oil off of the cork floors in the West Trenton plant kept getting promoted. He operated machinery and learned to make bearings. He advanced to inspection foreman and then production manager.  At one point, he worked double shifts to support his young family. The extra work never seemed to phase him. Every summer, the RBC plant would shut down for two weeks and the Laytons would hit the road.

With hotels and beach rentals out of reach, Pat and Jim invested in a 21-foot silver Zenith camper, attached it to the station wagon and hauled that baby all over the East Coast. It had four bunk beds in the back, and a small bathroom and kitchen. The dining room table would collapse and a makeshift mattress would cover the barely full-sized bed for Jim and Pat. Years later, when asked by his grown children how they managed any sleep, Jim shared their secret, laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. They would sneak out after lights out, frolic on a blanket under the stars, then return and fall asleep blissfully. 

The family traveled from Lake George in New York to Disney World over the many summers. Mom rode shotgun, navigating with the map spread across her lap, while Dad, a history buff, briefed us on the famous sites we would visit. Fort Ticonderoga,  Kitty Hawk, St. Augustine and scores of battlefields in between. Only once was there a staggering error in navigation. Pat sent the family the wrong way for two hours. Fearing that this might be the moment when the unflappable Jim loses it, she eyed a steakhouse and suggested we all deserved a special feast. She only fessed up when Jim was well into his New York strip. There was no need for the subterfuge. He took it all in stride.

 As the family thrived, they moved to their dream home - a newly built colonial with a brick front and a yard so big that it required a riding lawn mower.

Dad had been promoted again, this time to sales. With his expertise, warmth, quick wit and trustworthiness, the contracts kept coming. Four college tuitions were covered, the camper was gone and the travel budget exploded.

When Barbara was 16, she spent a summer in Belgium as an exchange student and a lifelong friendship began between the Laytons and the host family, the Zabeaus. The kids from Bordentown pinched themselves the first time the whole family went to Europe. Versailles, Notre Dame, dining in centuries-old restaurants. And oh my, king-sized beds!

But then tragedy struck. Pat was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40s.

Jim shepherded the four teenagers through the scariest days of their lives. Pat was so resilient that she worked through chemotherapy in a demanding job in the office of then- Gov. Tom Kean. Mom would battle cancer three more times, ultimately dying in 1993 at age 55.

Jim would again shoulder his family through unimaginable loss when his oldest  grandson Patrick was diagnosed with melanoma. At age 80, Poppy - as the grandkids called him - insisted on helping out, sometimes driving from Pennsylvania to New Jersey then shuttling Patrick and his mother Mary Jo into New York City for his treatment. Patrick died a month before his 20th birthday.

Jim would always throw himself into work after everyone regained their footing. And he took great comfort and pride from the generational progress of the family. He only wished Pat could have seen it all - each of the children and all of the grandkids have graduated from college. Two joined the military; Jim Jr. is a retired Colonel, NJ Air National Guard and grandson Sevren Holtzman is on active duty at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. 

Word of Jim’s legendary career spread far beyond RBC over the years. When he was 71, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer interviewed him on why he remained with the same employer for half a century - and kept working.

“I never thought of leaving,’’ Jim said in the article that was published in 2005.  “I report directly to the CEO…and he gives me free wheeling and dealing to do whatever I have to do to make the job go. Look out for yourself and make the best moves you can. Loyalty today is a difficult thing.’’

Throughout his life, Jim was an avid reader and would ask his children and grandchildren for book recommendations and share his picks at every occasion. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels for years and loved the New York Post, especially the headlines. His children lamented that he passed just days before a real whopper was published.  “Hoarse Manure’’ blared the  headline on a story about RFK Jr’s confirmation hearing. In the last 18 months of his life, Jim moved into the home of his youngest daughter, Pam, a nurse in Yardley P.A. and everyone pitched in with his daily care. He still had a twinkle in those blue eyes, and loved going out to restaurants, visiting the Jersey Shore, Mays Landing, Lambertville, New Hope, and the Yuengling brewery in Pottsville P.A.., a special excursion he requested for his last Father’s Day.

As much as he loved the family, Dad needed guy time, especially with Greg Ceuch and Brian Christiano from RBC.  The significant age gap between Dad and “the boys’’ made no difference as the trio traveled all over the country. Dad insisted that Greg and Brian - his wingmen - needed more training to replace him when he eventually retired. The caper went on for nearly two decades.

At age 89, in his 70th year at RBC, Jim experienced the highlight of his career. In Florida, at the annual Team Chinook conference, 300 leaders from Boeing, the U.S. Army, RBC and global suppliers recognized Jim for an extraordinary career. But even his wingmen were surprised at what came next. In a private ceremony later that day, U.S. Army Colonel Al Niles, Jr., a decorated aviator, presented Jim with a highly coveted honorary coin for his lifelong contributions.  In accepting the award, Jim committed to 10 more years at RBC. 

Survivors include Barbara and Frank Stevens of Hershey, P.A.; Jim and Jeannette Layton of Mays Landing, N.J.; Mary Jo Layton of Montclair N.J. and her partner Kevin O’Neil of Harrington Park, N.J., and Pamela Layton of Yardley, P.A. Grandchildren and their spouses include Kim and Del Thebaud of Severna Park, M.D,; Kristine Stevens of Hershey P.A; Sevren and Pam Holtzman of Elmore County, Idaho; Grace Moran of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Brendan Holtzman of Manayunk P.A.; Alex Layton of Mays Landing, N.J. Great-grandchildren are William Stevens, Finn and Katherine Thebaud. 

The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, 17 South Delaware Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067. A service at the funeral home will be officiated by Rev. Camilo Cruz at 12 noon. Burial with military honor guard will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08662.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Soup Kitchen, 871 McCarter Highway, Newark, NJ 07102 or go to www.njsk.org.