James Cosby

James "Walter" Cosby, 75, of Columbus, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Walter was born in Virginia on June 2, 1940, to the late Sarah and Walter Cosby. He grew up in White Sulphur Springs, WV and graduated from Greenbrier Military School in 1959, Marshall University, 1963 with a BS in Political Science and West Virginia University 1971 with his Master's Degree in Political Science. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War with the US Army.

Walter is survived by his wife of 22 years, Pam (Clarke) Cosby; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Norma and Dan Warrell, Kathy and John Johnson, Sandy Clarke, and Gary and Linda Clarke; nieces and nephews, Kelly Clarke Forrester, Wendy and Mohamed Moselhy, Beth and David Leistensnider, Stacy Borchers, Nathan Johnson, Nicole and Jason Para, Lindsay, Eric and Brittany Clarke; great nieces and nephews, Noah and Ava, Noah and Zayn, Annika and Matthew, Addison, Logan and Emery and many many friends.

Walter was an avid reader and Civil War enthusiast and a huge Ohio State Buckeyes fan due to his marriage to Pam. He loved spending the day playing golf with his best friend, Jim Lewis and he especially loved his thought provoking conversations with his lifelong friend, Burke Raymond.
Since his retirement in 2003, Walter devoted much of his time and energy working with The Greenbrier Military Alumni Association putting together a leadership program made available to the high school students of Greenbrier County. Though he never had any children of his own, he served as a mentor and father figure to a countless number of children and young adults imparting the leadership skills he developed throughout his life.

Everyone who met Walter, thought he was a true and engaging gentleman. He took a genuine interest in everyone he met and will be dearly missed.
Walter had requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Columbus Public Library in his name.

Family and friends will gather on Saturday, February 6, 2016, 2-4 PM at Newcomer Funeral Home, SW Chapel, 3393 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123, with a Memorial Service at 4PM.