James Ogea, 90, of Lake Charles, died at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021 at Harbor Hospice in Lake Charles, La.

Mr. Ogea was born on March 16, 1931 in Lake Charles, La. to Victoria Nelson Ogea and Simeon Ogea. He graduated from LaGrange High School and McNeese Junior College before continuing his education at Louisiana Tech in Ruston where he received a degree in mechanical engineering. Following his graduation, Jim joined the Air Force as a 2nd Lt. and served during the Korean Conflict as an Air Electronics Maintenance Officer for four years in various places including Saudi Arabia. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1957 at the rank of Captain.

Mr. Ogea worked at Cit-Con for six years before being employed by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, where he met and married Barbara, his wife of 57 years. He retired from Firestone after 33 years of service.

He was a lifelong Catholic and belonged to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, receiving a certificate for 57 years of service. For more than 25 years, he and his wife dedicated themselves to weekly Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. More recently, he became a parishioner at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.

His favorite time was that spent with his three grandchildren. He had a passion for crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and worked on them diligently up until a week prior to his death.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents, Simeon and Victoria Ogea; a brother, Richard Ogea: and a sister, Mary Ann Grissom.

Those left to cherish and honor his memory include: wife of 56 years, Barbara; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Kathleen Ogea; grandchildren, Kathryn Ogea, Alex Ogea, and Kyle Ogea; siblings, Betty Moore, Helen Hedrich, Ester “Squeaky” Doucet, Alice Sonnier, Tommy Ogea; an aunt, Natalie Coulon.

Family will welcome friends on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 beginning at 12 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, with a Rosary to be prayed at 1:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial, led by Monsignor Jace Eskind will begin at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at Sallier Cemetery.