James W. Minor, Sr.

James W. Minor, Sr.      “former Coudersport police chief”          

COUDERSPORT, Pa.---James Walter Minor, Sr., 92, a longtime resident of Coudersport, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 31,2018 in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a short illness.

Born on August 17, 1925 in Atwood, Tennessee, he was a son of Cecil and Sophia Springer Minor.  On December 26, 1945 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he married Elvira R. Rinaldi Minor, who passed away on January 11, 2011.

Jim was a 1940 graduate of Public School #3 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and graduate of New York High School of Industrial Arts in January of 1944 where he was a commercial art major. 

During World War II, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 22, 1944 when he was 18 years old. He was first assigned security detail on the USS Missouri at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard.  He then participated in action against the forces of the Empire of Japan where he earned the Combat Action Ribbon and also was awarded 14 other medals.  On September 2, 1945 he was assigned to the Honor Guard detail at the formal surrender of the Japanese government to Allied powers aboard the USS Missouri BB-63 in Tokyo Bay.  He attained the rank of corporal.

After the war, Jim was employed by the United States Post Office in New York City and retired in May of 1968 after 25 years of service.  He then moved to Coudersport and started working for the Coudersport Police Department in November of 1968.  In April 1973, he was the first police officer to attend a 10-week police training course at the State Police Academy in Hershey.  In April of 1979, Jim was appointed Chief of Police in Coudersport, where he remained until retiring in September of 1990.

Jim was a member of Gospel Tabernacle in Coudersport for 50 years and a member of the Coudersport American Legion Post 192.  He loved anything involving history and was an avid reader of history books. He loved watching old movies and had a sizeable collection of classic movie DVD’s. He loved working with wood and had built many pieces of furniture which can be found throughout his home.  He was a prolific artist.  Jim had a great love of Coudersport and for the people he served.  His greatest love was his family and the Lord.

Surviving are four children, Elizabeth Ortiz of Saint Petersburg, Florida, James W. (Peggy) Minor, Jr. of Sarasota, Florida, Judith A. (John) Bertone of Holbrook, N.Y., and John J. Minor of Deer Park, N.Y.; seven grandsons; three granddaughters; seven great-grandsons; nine great-granddaughters; six adopted great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; a brother, Paul (Susie) Minor of Coudersport; four sisters, Dorothy (David) Ross of Mechanicsburg, Naomi Frombach of Coudersport, Mary (Bruce) Quimby of Lincoln University, and Kathleen Minor of Coudersport; a son-in-law, Kevin Donnelly of Sarasota, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

In addition to his parents and wife, Jim was predeceased by a daughter, Linda R. Donnelly; and a brother, the Rev. David J. Minor, Sr.

Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2018, at the Gospel Tabernacle, 420 Route 6 West, Coudersport, where funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with the Rev. John J. Minor, pastor and Jim’s nephew, officiating.. Burial will be in Sweden Hill Cemetery, Coudersport.

Members of the Potter County Honor Guard will accord full military honors on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gospel Tabernacle, 420 Route 6 West, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Jim’s family has entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of Jim, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com