Obituary of Col James Elwood Price, Chaplain, USAF,

Reverend (Ret. Chaplain, Colonel) James Elwood Price, 84, lost his battle to complications with dementia and passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on February 25, 2021. James, the youngest of five children, was born April 26, 1936 in Colorado Springs to Rev. Ralph and Ethel Price of Simla, Colorado. As the son of an itinerant preacher, James and his family moved to Kansas while he was still an infant.James "Jim" graduated from high school in Highland, Kansas in 1954. He attended Kansas State University until his senior year when, following a decision to go into the ministry, he transferred to Westmar College, Le Mars, Iowa where he graduated with a B.A. in Zoology. In the summer before his senior year, 1958, Jim married his beloved Beverly Jo Suggs of Coffeyville, Kansas. He attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and in 1962 graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. As a fourth-generation minister, Jim was ordained in the United Church of Christ in July 1962.Jim and Beverly served parishes in Southern Ohio (Pt. Isabel, Mt. Zion, and New Richmond); Silverton, Colorado (1963-65); and Black Forest Community Church in Colorado Springs (1965-71). In 1971, he accepted a commission in the United States Air Force as a chaplain. Jim remained with the chaplaincy for twenty-four years with assignments throughout the U.S. and the world. During this period, he earned a Master of Political Science degree in 1982 from Auburn University. Jim's Air Force assignments included: Dover AFB, Delaware; Udorn AB, Thailand; Bergstrom AFB, Texas; Minot AFB, North Dakota; Aviano AB, Italy; Maxwell AFB, Alabama; Langley AFB, Virginia; McChord AFB, Washington; Bolling AFB, DC (Pentagon); and Mildenhall RAF, England. He served his final assignment as the Senior Command Chaplain at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He retired from the Air Force in 1995 in the grade of Colonel.Following retirement from the Air Force, Jim was an active volunteer with Pikes Peak Hospice and Habitat for Humanity where he served as President of the Board of Directors and Chair of several committees. He was Interim Associate Minister, Minister of Pastoral Care and Transition Pastor of Broadmoor Community Church in Colorado Springs, and Interim Pastor of Buena Vista Congregation. Jim enjoyed woodworking, hiking, camping, bicycling, and music and sang with Bev in their church choir and remained active until the recent pandemic.Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Ethel Price; his sister, Virginia Gunn; his brother, Robert Price; his brother, Dean Price; and daughter-in-law, Sally Morrow Price. Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Beverly; his sister, Carol Wood; his four children, Linda Wamboldt (Steve), Steve Price (Lisa), LeeAnn Gray (Ron), and Lori Terry (Daryl); his grandchildren, Jonathan Price, Mark Price (Leah), Sarah Sumner (Tyler), Kristen Robards, Karen Robards, Ryan Terry, Derek Fox (Heather) and Christopher Fox; and his great-grandchildren, Brailee, Colton, Isabella, Lilly, Alivia, and Payson (Due date April 2021!). O, how Jim loved his family, never failing to tell them that he loved them.Jim's faith assured him of God's love, where we are always chosen, always included, always embraced, and always loved. He will be greatly missed by each of those he left behind. Jim's generous spirit and warm heart, his easy laugh, and delightful humor, and his genuine kindness and compassion for others instilled encouragement and hopefulness. He officiated hundreds of military and civilian celebration of life services. Jim encouraged his listeners by sharing God's love, always pointing to Jesus' words: "Because I live, you will also live!" We move forward embracing those words and look forward to the day when we, too, will be reunited with Jim. Be encouraged in this, too!There will be a private family inurnment at Pikes Peak National Cemetery. There will also be a celebration of life service scheduled in the Spring due to Covid restrictions. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jim's memory may be made to The Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation or Broadmoor Community Church. Events Final Resting Place Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925