James Eugene (Jim) Rhine was born in Plymouth, Ohio on April 9, 1927, and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1944. During World War II and shortly thereafter, he served in the U.S. Merchant Marine as a radio operator on transatlantic convoys and in the U.S. Army, where he worked as General Marshall's radio operator during the China-Burma-India Campaign. His military decorations include the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Parachutist Badge. In the 1950's Jim began a career with the U.S. Government lasting nearly thirty years. He loved the excitement and adventure of living overseas, traveling and serving in countless locations in the Middle East, Southwest and Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, and Central Europe.

Jim was married to his lovely wife June for forty-nine years. Together, they raised three sons: Greg, a hospital safety manager, Bob, an engineer, and Jim Jr., a Hollywood writer. Following his retirement in the late 1970's Jim settled into the relaxing Florida way of life.

An avid Amateur Radio operator his whole life, Jim built his first "wireless" set as a teenager. He enjoyed the challenge of working the 10-meter band and keeping in touch with friends around the globe. Jim also used his radio skills to help missionaries stay in contact with their families, by patching their radio calls through to the U.S. He was a member of the Malabar Volunteer Fire Department, the Malabar Moose Lodge, the VFW, the American Legion, the Plymouth Area Historical Society, the Brevard (Computer) Users Group, and the Amateur Radio Relay League.

Jim Rhine passed away at home in Malabar Florida on June 9, 2006, following a brief illness. He was 79. Jim was survived by his wife, June Louise Rhine, three sons, two grandchildren, two siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Henry Rhine and Madge Christine Huffman.