Rev. James Melvin McCormick
The Rev. James Melvin McCormick, 85, passed away peacefully Thursday at the Passavant Retirement Community, Zelienople.
Born Jan. 17, 1927, in Butler, he was the son of the late Albert Augustus and Clara Evelina (McConnell) McCormick.
James is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Georgina W. (Druschel) McCormick, who he married Aug. 16, 1952, at the English Lutheran Church in Zelienople; his sister-in-law, Mary Jean (Druschel) Szakelyhidi and her husband, Frank, of Zelienople; his nephew, Charles Druschel and his wife, Nancy, of Zelienople; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Irene, Donald and Eleanor.
In 1945, James graduated from Butler schools. In 1950 he received a bachelor's from Thiel College in Greenville. In addition, he was a 1957 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary where he earned his bachelor's of divinity degree.
James proudly served his country as a seaman in the U.S. Navy from Jan. 16, 1945, to June 24, 1946. He was a resident member of the Seaman Memorial Lutheran Church at Passavant Retirement Community.
He proudly served these five parishes during his 31 years in the ministry: the Grace Lutheran Church in Clarion from 1957 to 1964; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Worthington from 1964 to 1967; St. John's Lutheran Church in Warren from 1967 to 1972; the Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester, Pa., from 1972 to 1976; and the Forks-Zion Church in Leechburg from 1976 to 1988.
MCCORMICK — A memorial service for the Rev. James Melvin McCormick, who passed away Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at the Seaman Memorial Chapel at Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople, with the Rev. Wilfred Goetze officiating.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.Online condolences and directions can be found at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.
