Obituary of Rev James Howard Price, ED.D

James Price passed peacefully August 8, 2024, surrounded by his family while hearing stories of his early life. His funeral was August 13, 2024 in Hendricks Chapel.
Jim was born August 4, 1930 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to James Simeon and LaRue Mary Fosco Price. he spent his childhood hiking, picking blueberries in the nearby mountains, and helping his Dad build their family home. He attended Derry township high school where he was a very popular class president and athletic hero as he was their star quarterback. He played trumpet at church, he loved to roller skate, no just skate but dance on both wheels and on ice. He was so good that he was engaged to be manager of the rink part time. He worked a while at Kennametal after school to earn enough money to buy a new car, his pride and joy. But an older worker in Kennametal urged him to move on, he was too young to stop with a new car. So in 1951 Jim joined the NAVY, and was on Yeoman duty doing military intelligence in NYC through 1955.
With an honorable discharge, he was encouraged to use his GI bill to go to Findlay College. He was fascinated with history so he earned his Bachelor’s degree in history with honors. With the encouragement of his church and school he decided he would like to enter the ministry. Oberlin School of Theology was not far away, and he wowed his younger classmates there by driving in with his red and white Oldsmobile hard top convertible. Among those impressed was an undergraduate coed: Susan Siddall Woodruff. They were married in 1961. Part-time employment while at Oberlin house parent to a cottage of wayward teenage boys at the Methodist Children’s Home. The “ Lang Gang” boys were honored guests at Jim’s wedding.
After the BD and ordination in the Methodist Church Jim was called to serve as minister of Youth and Education at St. Andrew’s United Methodist in Findlay Ohio for three years. Then he accepted an invitation to come to Syracuse University to get a Doctorate in Religious Education, focusing in Religious Education, Psychology and Educational Administration.
While working in his doctorate he had a succession of part time jobs around town: The Erwin Methodist Church, the Rockefeller Methodist Church, Elmcrest Children’s center, Brighton family center and Pebble hill Presbyterian Church.
Upon finishing his EdD he was hired as Executive Director of the Association for Retarded Children in Syracuse from 1970 to 1973. Then served as Acting Chief of Service at the Rome Developmental Center for two years.
Finally he was appointed Protestant Chaplain a the Syracuse Developmental Center for 27 years until the institution closed and residents were placed in group homes. While in this position he also served as a part time pastor at the St. Andrew Methodist Church in Mottville for 7 years and helped them build a new church.
Jim Price was Professionally affiliated with:
The West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church
The New York State Chaplains Association
PEF, a union of public employees in the New York State
Permanently certified to teach, to be a school administrator, and to be school district administrator in New York State.
Literary accomplishments: Many Sermons!!!
After retiring he was hired as a public school teacher. He loved to skate, read, go on bike rides, sing in the choir, water ski, sing and dance to polka songs.
He was preceded in death by his parents : James Simeon Price ( married to LaRue Mary Fosco), a baby brother who died in infancy, his sister LaRue Virginia( married to Michael Kantoris)
He is survived by his wife Susan, his two daughters Katherine( married to Robert Tweidt) and Carolyn, his two grandchildren Kyle and Danielle(married to Zachary Spuur), his niece Cheryl( married to the late Anthony Alesi), his great nephews Shawn(married to Beth), nephews Jaden and Shane,( married to Melissa with Isabella and Anthony) , his sister in law Janet( married to David Hopkins), nieces Deborah( married to Oliver Nanassy) and Sarah.