1948
Bishop
2024
Bishop James W. Burkholder
December 26, 1948 — February 22, 2024
James W. Burkholder, 75, of Valley Road Tamaqua, PA, died February 22, 2024, at home in Walker Twp. Born December 26, 1948, son of late Titus K. and Elizabeth M. (Weaver) Burkholder.
James was a bishop in the Richland District of the Eastern PA Mennonite Church and pastor of the New England Valley congregation at Tamaqua. He was by occupation a crop / poultry farmer and an electrician.
Preceded in death by his wife of forty-two years, Rachel G. (Hostetter) Burkholder whom he married March 28, 1970; two sisters, Ida Brubacker (Paul) of Carlisle, PA; Rachel Hursh (Earl Ray) of Middleburg, PA; and granddaughter Amanda Burkholder.
Survived by four daughters: Rhoda Zimmerman (Mitchell) of Pine Grove, PA; Martha Rudolph (Lee) of Mexico; Joanna Rudolph (Arlin) of Aspers, PA; Susanna Carpenter (Nathanael) of Bristol, GA; Eight sons: Nathan (Linda) of Tamaqua, PA; Samuel (Joyce) of Paraguay, South America; Mark (Lois) of Tamaqua, PA; Matthew (Keturah) of Guatemala, Central America; Andrew (Elizabeth) of Tamaqua, PA; Philip (Louise) of Tamaqua, PA; Timothy (Rebecca) of Tamaqua, PA; Daniel (Denise) of Warrensburg, MO; Seven sisters: Laverne Erb (Harry) of Scurry, TX; Vera Hege (Ira) of Hagerstown, MD; Mary Wenger (Clarence) of Manheim, PA; Sara Zimmerman (Roy) of New Holland, PA; Esther Sensenig (James) of Arcola, IL; Rhoda Martin (Dale) of Ephrata, PA; Miriam Nolt (Marlin) of Myerstown, PA; Four brothers: Eby (Ruth) of Ephrata, PA; Jesse (Mary Ellen) of Spring Mills, PA; David (Tracy) of Mifflinburg, PA; John (Anne) of Colby, WI; eighty-five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Viewings will be held 2 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 2, New England Valley Mennonite Church, 1307 Valley Rd., Tamaqua, PA 18252, also 2 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3 at Fairview Reception Ctr., 141 Jackson Rd., Lebanon, PA 17042.
Funeral Service will be held at Fairview Reception Ctr., 10 o'clock a.m. Monday, March 4, 2024.
Interment, New England Valley Church cemetery, Tamaqua, PA.
Arrangements by E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
James was a bishop in the Richland District of the Eastern PA Mennonite Church and pastor of the New England Valley congregation at Tamaqua. He was by occupation a crop / poultry farmer and an electrician.
Preceded in death by his wife of forty-two years, Rachel G. (Hostetter) Burkholder whom he married March 28, 1970; two sisters, Ida Brubacker (Paul) of Carlisle, PA; Rachel Hursh (Earl Ray) of Middleburg, PA; and granddaughter Amanda Burkholder.
Survived by four daughters: Rhoda Zimmerman (Mitchell) of Pine Grove, PA; Martha Rudolph (Lee) of Mexico; Joanna Rudolph (Arlin) of Aspers, PA; Susanna Carpenter (Nathanael) of Bristol, GA; Eight sons: Nathan (Linda) of Tamaqua, PA; Samuel (Joyce) of Paraguay, South America; Mark (Lois) of Tamaqua, PA; Matthew (Keturah) of Guatemala, Central America; Andrew (Elizabeth) of Tamaqua, PA; Philip (Louise) of Tamaqua, PA; Timothy (Rebecca) of Tamaqua, PA; Daniel (Denise) of Warrensburg, MO; Seven sisters: Laverne Erb (Harry) of Scurry, TX; Vera Hege (Ira) of Hagerstown, MD; Mary Wenger (Clarence) of Manheim, PA; Sara Zimmerman (Roy) of New Holland, PA; Esther Sensenig (James) of Arcola, IL; Rhoda Martin (Dale) of Ephrata, PA; Miriam Nolt (Marlin) of Myerstown, PA; Four brothers: Eby (Ruth) of Ephrata, PA; Jesse (Mary Ellen) of Spring Mills, PA; David (Tracy) of Mifflinburg, PA; John (Anne) of Colby, WI; eighty-five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren.
Viewings will be held 2 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 2, New England Valley Mennonite Church, 1307 Valley Rd., Tamaqua, PA 18252, also 2 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3 at Fairview Reception Ctr., 141 Jackson Rd., Lebanon, PA 17042.
Funeral Service will be held at Fairview Reception Ctr., 10 o'clock a.m. Monday, March 4, 2024.
Interment, New England Valley Church cemetery, Tamaqua, PA.
Arrangements by E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bishop James W. Burkholder, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation / Calling
Saturday, March 2, 2024
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)
New England Valley Mennonite Church
Visitation / Calling
Sunday, March 3, 2024
2:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)
Fair View Reception Ctr.
Viewing
Sunday, March 3, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)
Fair View Reception Ctr.
Funeral Service
Monday, March 4, 2024
Starts at 10:00 am (Eastern time)
Fair View Reception Ctr.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors