ILION - James E. Spellman age 78 of John Street, entered into eternal rest on Monday evening May 24, 2004 in Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown. He had the support and comfort of his loving wife at his side. He was born on April 28, 1926 in Utica, son of the late Paul E. and Florence Pridemore Spellman. A lifelong area resident he was raised in Utica where he graduated from Utica Free Academy with the class of 1944. Upon completing high school he went on to Colgate University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1947. In 1950 he graduated from Cornell Law School with a Ll.B Degree. An honorably discharged veteran of both World War II and Korea. He first served in from 1944 to 1946 with the US Navy. From January of 1952 until December of 1953 he served with the United States Air Force in the Judge Advocate Generals Department. In 1986 he was honorably discharged from the US Air Force Reserves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Spellman started to practice law in August of 1950, first with Smallwood and Smallwood Attorneys in Warsaw, NY, in 1954 he similarly practiced law with Evans, Pirnie and Burdick Attorneys, Utica and in 1955 locally with Schneider and Getman Attorneys in Ilion. Mr. Spellman started his own law practice in 1986 on Otsego Street, Ilion. On January 25, 1969 he married the former Jane Ann Sullivan in Fulton. They have resided in Ilion since that time. Mr. Spellman had a strong sense of community. He had served as Ilion Village Trustee from 1971 to 1975, he had also served as Village Attorney, Village Justice, Treasurer of the Urban Renewal Agency, the Marina Commission, Park Board, Assessor and at one time was designated as acting Mayor. He was a member and past president of the Ilion Kiwanis Club, a member of Friends of the Ilion Library, The Judge Advocates Association, New York State Bar Association, a member and former secretary of the Herkimer Bar Association, American Legion Post Ilion, the Ilion Moose, Ilion Elks, Ilion Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, Ziyara Temple and the Mohawk Valley Shrine Club. Surviving are his wife of thirty-five years Jane, one cousin Robert and his wife Barbara Pridemore of Penn Yan, two sister-in-laws, Dr. Sheila R. Sullivan of Utica, Mrs. Frances T. Sullivan of Fulton, a brother-in-law Michael and his wife Barbara Sullivan of Long Branch, NJ, five nephews, Michael H. Sullivan of Clinton, Matthew P. Sullivan of Freehold, NJ, Daniel B. Sullivan of Rumson, NJ, Timothy R. Sullivan of Freehold, NJ, Eugene F. Sullivan III of Fulton, two nieces, Katharine T. Sullivan of Aspen, CO, Margaret F. Sullivan of Oswego, four great nieces, Janel Sullivan of Fulton, Brooke A. Sullivan, Kelsey C. Sullivan both of Clinton, Maggie Sullivan of Freehold, NJ, nine great nephews, Matthew P. Sullivan, John C. Sullivan both of Freehold, NJ, Daniel B. Sullivan of Rumson, NJ, Connor H. Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan, Reed Sullivan all of Freehold, NJ, Patrick Sullivan of Fulton, Ryan M. Sullivan of Clinton, Owen Sullivan of Rumson, NJ. Funeral service will be on Friday at 11:00 am in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer. Sister Mary Jo Tallman will officiate. Mr. Spellman will be laid to rest with military honors in Forrest Hill Cemetery, Utica. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Herkimer County Historical Society or the Ilion Free Public Library. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.