James Kober Jr. ended life's journey on Sunday at his home in New Castle with his family at his bedside after a three-year struggle with a malignant brain tumor.

Born in Wilkinsburg Jan. 1, 1937, he was the eldest son of the late James and Dolores Topper-Kober.

His early childhood was spent on the Kober family homestead in Irwin, and his family moved the West Sunbury area in the early 1940s.

Mr. Kober graduated from Moniteau High School and served in the Army at Fort Lewis, Wash., before being deployed to Karlsruhe, Germany.

He graduated from Vale Technical Institute in Blairsville, where he specialized in automotive restoration and painting. He worked for several dealerships in the New Castle area. He then worked for the Postal Service in Ellwood City and retired in 2003.

He was an avid hunter, enjoyed the outdoors and was a fan of auto racing and local car shows.

Survived by his wife, Jane Craig Kober; two sons, James Michael Kober of New Port Richey, Fla., and Jason Craig Kober and his wife, Amanda, of New Castle; a brother, Charles J. Kober and his wife, Carol, of Glade Hill, Va., and a sister, Dolores A. Shawgo and her family of Slippery Rock.

<B>KOBER </B>— There will be no visitation for James Kober Jr., who died Sunday, June 4, 2006. His body is being donated to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for medical research.Memorial contributions may be made to the Neshannock Presbyterian Church, 37 Fairground Road, New Castle, PA 16101.