James Jay Warren, known simply as Jimmy to the hundreds of people who loved him, departed this life on May 10, 2026, just three days short of his 66th birthday.

The son of the late Ernest and Betty Hamilton Warren of New Philadelphia, Jimmy was born on May 13, 1960, at Twin City Hospital in Dennison. His near-constant smile, infectious laugh, and his sheer joy of life made him beloved by everyone who met him, and Jimmy’s loving nature made it possible for him to return that love in great abundance.

Jimmy spent part of his childhood and teenage years under the care of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity at St. John’s Villa in Carrollton. In 1981, he began residing in several group homes in New Philadelphia and Dover administered by Horizons Inc., an organization of personal caregivers to the developmentally disabled community in Tuscarawas and several other counties. His family will forever be grateful for the truly exceptional care he received there over the course of 45 years, with a number of caregivers who showed extra special devotion to Jimmy.

Jimmy had an especially close bond with his brother, Richard Warren, of Columbus but he is also survived by a half-sister, Jacquie Whitmire of Gnadenhutten, and a number of beloved cousins, including Traci, Jamie, Will, Aaron, and Susannah Colley of Weddington, North Carolina, and Don and Sarah Holub of Akron, and many, many others. Jimmy was blessed to be part of a large extended family who cherished the gifts of joy and love he brought to the world. He was also beloved by the countless friends he made in the Horizons community over the years.

Calling hours will be held in the Linn-Hert Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at 116 2nd St. NE in New Philadelphia on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. A service and celebration of Jimmy’s life will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2 p.m. in the Next Gen Center, associated with the First Baptist Church of New Philadelphia, 878 Commercial Avenue SW in New Philadelphia, where Jimmy was part of its Good Shepherd ministry for several decades.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jimmy’s name to Horizons Inc. at 220 W. 4th St., Dover, Ohio, 44622.

**Lovingly prepared by Jimmy's family**