James ‘Jim’ E. Church

James “Jim” E. Church claimed his spiritual inheritance in Heaven on Sept. 27, 2021.

He was 82, born in Coalmont, Ind., on July 17, 1939 to Coy Blan “Mike” Church and Eldred Craig Church Bicard Greenwood.

Jim graduated from Linton-Stockton High School in 1957. He proudly served three years in the U.S. Navy prior to graduation from Indiana State University in 1964 with a BS degree in music education and a MS degree in 1965.

Jim began his career teaching at West Vigo High School as a band director in 1965. He then became assistant professor and band director of the Indiana State University Marching Sycamores in 1968-1976. While working on an advanced degree in education, Jim continued as a band director at Woodrow Wilson Junior High and Rose Hulman University and after completing his EDS education degree at the University of Illinois and ISU, he returned to West Vigo High School as dean of boys.

Jim became principal at Greencastle High School in 1982 and then served as the assistant principal for curriculum at Terre Haute South Vigo High School from 1985 to 1990, when he founded the singing ministry of Crusaders for Christ and established a Christian home for young men at Little David’s, located at the old Otter Creek High School in North Terre Haute.

He returned to public education in 1998 and served as assistant principal and later principal at Northview High School in Brazil until 2006. Jim finished his career in education returning to Greencastle High School as principal until his retirement in 2009.

Upon retirement, Jim and his wife Brenda moved to Cape Coral, Fla., where he continued supervising student teaching interns from the University of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University, in addition to ministering to youth incarcerated at the Lee County Juvenile Center.

Jim is survived by his wife and soulmate, Brenda; two sons, Michael (Brenda) Church of Belpre, Ohio, and Mark Church of Seattle, Wash.; two daughters, Mardee (Paul) Miller of Knoxville, Tenn., and Michele Shetter, Carmel; stepdaughter Rebecca Mullen of Carmel; and stepson Jeff Thompson of Terre Haute. Other survivors include his eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two stepsisters, Margaret (Richard) Schafer of Plainfield and Sarah (Fred) Vordee of Elkhart; and many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, as well as two very special nephews, Tim (Margaret) Church, and Troy (Leslie) Church, both of Linton; very special nieces Tammy Young, Tracy Hunt and Tanya Johnson; and his special sister-in-law Micki Church of Linton.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, and beloved brother, Jerry Church of Linton; and beloved sister, Jane Staley of Clay City.

A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, Oct. 17 from 2-4 p.m. at Northview High School auditorium in Brazil.

Jim proudly served as a Gideon, and he requested upon his death that any donations be made to Gideons International to provide God’s Word to be distributed throughout the world. Donations may be given online at gideons.org.