James Edward Ensminger


Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA
Published in the "Big Bear Grizzly" Wednesday, April 26, 2006 12:56 PM PDT
File uploaded 21 May 2006

This file is part of the California Tombstone Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/california/californ.html


James Edward Ensminger, II

66, passed March 21, 2006, in Big Bear Lake, Calif. He was born in Luling, Texas, in 1939, 
the eldest of seven children. James was a general contractor, owner of Encon Construction, 
who came to Big Bear from Corpus Christi in 1979 to build the Sizzler Restaurant. He developed 
a special fondness for Big Bear Lake and made it his home. He built the airport building, the 
Big Bear Inn, now the Best Western, contributed to the city building and the PAC, and several 
additional commercial and residential buildings in the region. He served his country in the 
United States Army, and was a member of the Rotary for 15 years, Elks, American Legion and the 
Moose Club.

He is survived by his wife, Pat of 25 years, who he met and married after coming to Big Bear; 
daughter Brenda Mitchell and grandson Christopher, son James E. Ensminger, III and their half 
brothers and sister, Gelvase J. Anselmi, Acton J. Anselmi, and Janelle M. Shur, and stepchildren 
Michele Flinn, Sandee Cardinal, and Richard Reif, II. He was the eldest of seven children and is 
survived by those siblings, Jerry D., Ben R., and George S. Ensminger, sisters Carol J. Parks, 
Kathy Fritcher, and Eva Nell Dwyer, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services to celebrate his life will be held on April 22 at the Elks Club in Big Bear Lake at 1 p.m.