James M. Church

CHURCH, James Melvin “Jim”, age 72 of Vandalia, passed away Sunday, September 1, 2019 at Crossroads Nursing and Rehab Center in Vandalia.  Jim was born November 19, 1946 in Wellston, Ohio, son of the late John H. and Grace E. (Sanders) Church.  He had seven brothers, Ray, Sam, Everette, Jack, Johnny, Rex, and Gary, along with two sisters, Jane and Shirley.  Jim married Betty S. (Collett) Church in 1966 and they had two children, Jacquelynne and Jamie.

Jim served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam Era.  Following his military service, he worked as a heat treat operator for B.F. Goodrich.  Jim attended the First Pentecostal Church of Union and loved singing for the  Lord.  He enjoyed his time as a Vandalia Youth Baseball Coach for many years, loved fishing with his son, Jamie and enjoyed woodworking.

Preceded in death by his beloved son, Jamie on January 11, 1989, six of his brothers and his two sisters, Jim is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Jacquelynne; granddaughter, Lindsay; and great-grandchildren, Stephen, Destiney, and Spencer.  He came from a large, loving family with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia with Pastor Todd Hoskins officiating.  Graveside committal service with Military Honors will follow at 2:30 pm at the Dayton National Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 11:00 am until time of service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Redemption Christian Tabernacle or to Crossroads Hospice in Jim’s memory.