Obituary of James F. Estep, Jr.

ESTEP - James F., Jr., (March 13, 1947 – November 24, 2024), proclaimed himself early and often. His first word was “car!” He taught himself about the mechanics of engines by building, rebuilding, and studying “The Invisible V-8” numerous times before turning 10 years old. Jim was an Eagle Scout who attended two National Jamborees, along with a summer at Philmont Camp. In high school, Jim’s athletic ability shone, as he jumped his height for the Central Cambria Track and Field team, and set a personal record while being closely pursued by his own shadow, a story he relished, and often retold.   He also worked summers for his dad at Ebensburg Lumber Company and was proud to meet every challenge presented to him there. Jim attended Allegheny College, where he found lifelong friends in his Phi Kappa Psi brothers; he also served as a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserves.

Jim loved family and was jealously protective of his tribe, including his beloved Adam Dambach (Aimee; Haley, Brynn) and Kara Dambach German (Cory; Brady, Colin, Amelia), for whom he was a father figure. Jim was predeceased by parents James F. Estep, Sr. and Jean McSparran Estep, brother Tom (Susan Bartoletti), niece Kelly A. O’Brien, and great-nieces Marie and Meghan O’Brien. He is survived by sister Martha O’Brien (the late Richard G. O’Brien) and  brother Dave (Cath Crowley). That love extended to his many nephews and nieces, as well as his McSparran and Datz cousins. Of special note, nephew Kevin O’Brien carried on the lifelong dedication to supporting Jim’s needs that his father had instilled by example. While Jim resided most of his life in Ebensburg, he found an enduring community of friends and relationships in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Jim’s life changed when he was seriously injured while working in a railroad switching yard in March 1971, shortly after his 24th birthday. His bullheadedness kept him alive that morning and served him well for the rest of his life (even while, at times, frustrating all those around him!). Despite chronic debilitating pain and paralysis from the waist down as a result of that accident, Jim was never heard to complain about his situation. Instead, he pushed ahead to make the most of his life, never expecting handouts, sympathy, or unneeded assistance. One of Jim’s most common statements was, “I am blessed.”  

In the 1980s, Jim established Estep’s Heavy Towing, a business that served needs across a wide swath of Pennsylvania, with a specialty in the use of airbag systems to right overturned trailers, as well as the use of sophisticated multi-wrecker approaches to extract dangerously twisted wreckage or wreckage well offroad and seemingly inaccessible, and he also owned Estep’s Arco, a gas and service station, on the current site of Sunoco in Ebensburg.  

As the founder of Estep Realty Service in the 1990s, Jim made his mark as a developer and broker, mostly through sheer willpower and hard work. He had mentors along the way and certainly many colleagues and advisors who helped him, but mostly he built the business by attending to the myriad details and site-specific assets and problems at a granular level. This work was personal for him, and it showed. Jim’s vision led to numerous successful business and health care businesses as part of the commercial corridor along Rt. 22 west of Ebensburg, finding solutions to challenges that others deemed intractable.

Honoring the legacy of his parents, Jim was active in a wide variety of community activities. Jim was particularly proud of the work accomplished by the William Penn Highway Association, of which he was First Vice President, and for whom he served as spokesperson, going to dozens of regional hearings with PENNDOT to advocate and update. The outcome was the improved highway from Mundy’s Corner to Monroeville, transforming a dangerous highway into the safe route it is today. Jim was tapped by the Cambria County Commissioners to be part of an ad hoc real estate committee examining the county’s real estate holdings. The fruits of that effort were considerable cost savings for the citizens of the county and a streamlined and updated office structure that increased access and convenience for all. An outgrowth of that was the work of the county’s Farmland Preservation Board, an effort close to Jim’s heart due to his family’s roots in farming. At his insistence, the county updated the process to assure a new deed is registered to reflect the preservation easement. Jim gave countless hours as a member of the  Ebensburg Airport board, ensuring the continued operation of the airport. He served on the board of the Allegheny Highlands Regional Theater and was an active supporter of the Boy Scouts. Jim held several leadership and advisory roles over the years at the First Presbyterian Church of Ebensburg. He sat on the board of Pennsylvania Association of Individuals with Disabilities, providing insight and expert testimony regarding the challenges of living in a world that is inconsistently accessible, offering ideas for improvement, and also making it clear that the too-frequent failure of businesses to meet access requirements and of inspectors to hold businesses accountable was unacceptable. 

The family thanks 1Laurel Highlands Hospice and Maple Heights for caring for Jim in his final days, allowing him to pass peacefully and contentedly.  We also thank The Imperial Room, Kosta’s, Off the RAK, and The Meadows, and their Staff and Owners, for taking care of Jim over recent years, going above and beyond.  Lastly, we thank Doug Tusing, his friend, listing agent for Estep Realty Services, and his right-hand man for many years in his business, as Doug helped keep Jim’s vision, aspirations, and dreams for our community alive!

Jim’s greatest achievement was making people smile.  He had a knack for listening and talking to people, not at them, and a penchant for story-telling. In some way great or small, your life was changed – for the better – by knowing him. He sought to lead by example; our world is immeasurably better for his having been in it. His lessons of strength, persistence, love, and, yes, bullheadedness showed those of us who loved him what is possible. He will be missed by many, in many communities.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Ebensburg; or Boy Scout Troop 98 or Cub Scout Pack 16 in Ebensburg or, Outreach Suppers at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Beverly, MA (https://onrealm.org/StPetersEpiscop27934/-/form/give/now ).

The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.  Arrangements are in the care of Askew-Houser Funeral Homes, Inc., Ebensburg www.askew-houser.com

 

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