James Richard Diley

September 20, 1944 - December 16, 2021

James Richard Diley, 77, passed away during surgery December 16, 2021 in Oceanside, California. He was born September 20, 1944, to the late Ray E Diley and Audrey (Gruber) Diley, in Columbus, Ohio. Jim grew up in West Milton, OH, graduating from Milton-Union HS in 1962. He joined the Navy that same year and served 6 years in the Vietnam War, as a surgical Corpsman at Great Lakes Naval Station, Midway Island, and Yokosuka, Japan. While in Japan he married the late Mutsu (Masako) Diley. (Deceased April 16, 2011). After the Navy, Jim worked at Miami Valley Hospital as an operating room technician, and used the GI bill to study Insurance, obtaining his claims license. He soon joined Westfield Insurance and became Claims manager in the Cincinnati area, then was promoted and transferred to Southern California. He later joined American States Insurance, when Westfield pulled out of California. American States became Safeco, which became Liberty Mutual, his company until retirement as a Senior Claims Manager, in 2011. He last resided in Oceanside California with his partner Judi Bonilla. Jim was an Eagle Scout, Freemason, and member of King of Kings Lutheran Church Oceanside, Ca. He is survived by his son Mitsugu “Mitsu” Diley and wife Dawn (Armstrong) Diley and two grandchildren James Diley and Jennifer Audrey Diley, of San Diego; brother Donald Ray Diley and Nancy Elaine (Wion) Diley of New River, AZ; sister Judy (Diley) Moncrief, Dayton, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; and loving friend Judi Bonilla of Oceanside. A Graveside Service with Military honors will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.KindredFuneralHome.com