Fidler Genealogy

*This Kathryn Perry was sisters with Eleanor Perry who married James' brother Loyal Fidler, making for one of the several instances when Fidler brothers married girls who were sisters (and resulting in the offspring being double first cousins).

Always known as "Uncle Jimmy" by my dad and others... And then course this James' son, James P. Fidler (see below), was always known as "Little Jimmy", probably beyond the point which it was fitting as an actual description! (Same was true in my case too, of course... I was known to some as "Little Paul" well into the years when I had a good 40 pounds on my dad!)

JAMES ELLIOT FIDLER
May 1, 1904 - November 5, 1990

James E. Fidler, an outstanding teacher and parent, used his innate teaching and parenting skills to serve God and his fellow men as a professional teacher, minister, and administrator.

Born on May 4, 1904, in Arlington, West Virginia, he was the fifth of eight children born to George E. Fidler and Sophronia McAvoy Fidler.

Jimmy, as everyone affectionately called him, graduated with a B.A. degree in history from Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia in May, 1926. He later studied at West Virginia University.

On June 10, 1926 he married Kathryn Perry of Elkins, West Virginia. They were happily married for sixty-four years.

He then taught history at Elkins High School for three years, and graduated with a Masters in Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, on May 3, 1932. He was ordained at the First Baptist Church, Elkins, West Virginia in 1932. Later he served as Dean of Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia and was head of the Department of Bible and Christian Education. He also served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Grafton, West Virginia.

Jim and Kathryn moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia in 1937 where he served as the State Director of Christian Education for the West Virginia Baptist Convention until 1945. In 1945 they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Jim became the National Director of Leadership Development of the (then) American Baptist Convention. He would hold this position for twenty-four years. During these years he wrote several books on Christian Education; served as Director of the Lay Development Program for American Baptists; and for twenty years served as the Director of the Christian Education Conference, American Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, Wisconsin. Jim received an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater, Davis and Elkins. He also served as Administrator of Whispering Pines Nursing Home in Valparaiso, Indiana, from 1970 until he moved to Cincinnati.

While living in Cincinnati he and Kathryn joined the Montgomery Community Baptist Church. Jim served as Interim Pastor of Wyoming Baptist Church and Roselawn Community Baptist Church. He was on the Board of Missions from 1972 - 1975 and the Board of Christian Education from 1975- 1980. He served on the Board of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati. He was a board member of Judson Village, formerly the Baptist Home and Center. He was Senior Citizen Camp Director for the Ohio Baptist Convention for eight years. Jim served on many other state and association committees.

As all can attest who knew him, he was an avid baseball fan and may have been the most loyal Cincinnati Reds fan on the face of the earth. His children and grandchildren inherited his love and enthusiasm for baseball.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Perry Fidler, and two children: James P. Fidler, M.D., Cincinnati; and Jane F. Golder, Chantilly, Virginia; and five grandchildren: Laura K. Fidler, Cincinnati; Ann F. Taylor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sara J. Fidler, Cincinnati; Paul E. Golder, Gainesville, Virginia; and James E. Golder, Alexandria, Virginia. He is also survived by a sister, Jean F. Miller, Cleveland, Ohio.

God also blessed Jim with many friends and loved ones who extend prayers of love and comfort to Kathryn and family at this time of loss.

It is said of Jim that he could always be found at one of three places: church, home, or at the ball park. He was truly a man who had his priorities in place yet still found time to enjoy life. We will miss you, Jim.

November, 1990

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