James Beard Slingluff – November 14, 1927- July 8, 2025
Jim Slingluff’s life was one of service. Service is how he confirmed his value as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to his community as a psychiatric social worker and adjunct professor, and to his family as husband and father. Jim’s service ended at the age of 97 on July 8, 2025, at his home in the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople, Pennsylvania.
Jim was born on November 14, 1927, in Ambridge PA, the son of Walter Upton Slingluff and Ruth Lillian Beard.
He graduated from Ambridge High School in 1945 and joined the US Navy as an air cadet. He wandered through college at Dartmouth and Duquesne University before graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia in 1952 and was ordained that year. He served as Chaplin for the Passavant Memorial Homes in Rochester, Pa, and as pastor for Lutheran congregations in Timblin, Worthington, and Ridgeway Pa. He also served the Grace/Cordova parish in Easton, MD, and as an interim pastor for Lutheran parishes in Frederick and Carroll counties in Maryland.
In 1968 he completed a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Maryland and embarked on a second career of service as a psychiatric social worker, first at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center in Cambridge, MD, then as Director of Social Work at the Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, MD. He also was an adjunct professor at Western Maryland College (now McDaniels College) teaching sociology and family courses.
As our dad, he taught us many things. To have a sense of humor, to try all kinds of food, that a day spent reading isn’t wasted, how to water ski, to love the outdoors, that singing in the car is better than fighting, to keep working until the job is done, that love is an action not just a feeling, and loving your neighbor means ALL of them, that mercy is as important as justice and forgiveness benefits the forgiver as much as the forgiven. Growing up we never thought we’d say this, but we will miss his lectures!
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 72 years, Jean Agnes Vodenichar Slingluff, his son, James Anthony Slingluff, his parents, and his four brothers, Richard, Robert, John and Charles Slingluff.
Surviving are his daughters, Joyce Jean Slingluff Wilbur (Edward John) of Pittsburgh, PA, and Dorothy Rena Slingluff (Marion Lang) of Troy, VA, a granddaughter, Emily Bouman (Thomas), two great granddaughters, Barbara and Leah Bouman, a grandson Scott Wilbur (Peace Agidi) of Alexandria VA and a great grandson, Senyo Agidiwilbur.
Services will be held at the Seaman Chapel in the Passavant Retirement Community, Zelienople, PA at 11 am on Saturday August 23. A light lunch and celebration of life will be held in the Scholl Center immediately afterwards. He will be interred next to his wife and son at Sylvania Hills Cemetery in New Brighton, PA.
