Obituary of James V. Alling

James Vernon Alling, 76, of Montour Falls, NY and formerly of Rock Stream, NY, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2024. He was born in Waterloo, NY on November 10, 1947 the son of Vernon and Jane (Shirley) Alling, Jr. He was a graduate of Odessa-Montour Central School.

Music was Jim’s passion. He often called on his sisters Linda and Cindy to discuss Music Theory. Those who knew him received many a You Tube video.  He was a percussionist.  As a teen, he played snare drum under the direction of Dr. Frank Brown at Odessa-Montour Central School. He played professionally with a local group called The Echelons and once was invited to “sit-in” on the song Wipe-Out by the Safaris which he performed the tom-tom drum solo seamlessly for a band touring locally at The Fontainebleau, Odessa NY.  He could often be found playing one of many harmonicas in his collection.  Before his passing, he was planning to teach himself guitar on his left-handed Fender Stratocaster. He truly wanted to be a Jimi Hendrix! 

His interests were many, as evidenced by his enormous collection of scrapbooks filled with detailed notes and pictures of boats, motorcycles, fishing equipment, and hunting rifles. Having had one or more of each.  We all remember the hydroplane boat he built from scratch, in the upstairs of our garage at 104 Catherine Street.  He planed, sanded, stained and polished the wood till it shone like glass. The launch on Seneca Lake however didn’t go quite as planned.   Jim was an avid stamp collector since childhood. He took up coin collecting as well.  Polishing stones with the patience of Job proved fruitful. They too were a prided collection.  

His years of employment as a Machinist at Shepard-Niles, where he worked with brothers Bob and Steve, required accuracy in the smallest of detail and diligence. Jim provided 27 years of that accuracy, amassing a tool collection that was admired by many.  He loved science and could often be found reading a book about Tesla or nuclear fusion, then would call brother Paul for “clarification”. He was a wealth of knowledge and used it to provide answers to how things worked. 

He enjoyed walking along the railroad tracks near his property in Rock Stream.  It was there he met “Happy” the feral cat.  It was “the best day ever” for both as they cohabitated for many years after. Can’t forget to mention his sense of humor.  If anyone could figure that out it was brother Eddie, they were two of a kind. 

To know Jimmy was to know a very prayerful man who could easily recite scripture. It was this knowledge of scripture that got him through some challenging times in his life to the end. He will be truly missed by his children, Jim, Jamie, and Scott, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and siblings. 

Jim is survived by his daughter, Jamie (Alling) Shah of Charlotte, NC; two sons, James (Rachel) Alling of Horseheads and Scott (Beth) Magee of Homer, NY; two sisters, Linda (Alling) Golicki of Dresden, TN and Cynthia (Alling) Ciaschi of Montour Falls, NY; three brothers, Robert Alling of Montour Falls, NY, Paul (Yvonne) Alling of Orangeburg, SC and Edward (Shawna) Alling of Alpine, NY; three grandchildren, Kiersten, Brianna and Zachary; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Vernon and Jane Alling; and by his brother, Stephen Alling.

A graveside service will be held privately by the family at Montour Cemetery. Contributions may be made in his memory to the Humane Society of Schuyler County, 124 Marina Dr., Montour Falls, NY 14865 or Golisano Children’s Hospital, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642.