The family of Reverend Jack E. Price announces a Celebration of Life Service for Jack to be held 11AM Saturday, May 30, 2015 at Court Street United Methodist Church .
Jack was born October 9, 1930 in Hinton, West Virginia, the son of Hilda and Harold Price. He spent his childhood roaming the beautiful mountains and rivers in West Virginia.
He graduated from Hinton High School in 1948 and West Virginia University in 1952. He completed his studies for his Master of Divinity at Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1960. In 1953 he married his college love Martha Tennant and they moved to Chicago where they continued their studies while working at Onward Neighborhood House.
Jack served Methodist churches in Hamlet and New Carlisle, Indiana, and Hammond and Lafayette, Indiana as Minister of Christian Education. He moved to Flint in 1966 as Minister of Christian Education at Court Street Methodist Church. While at Court Street he organized and led work camps in Appalachia, Directed the Detroit Conference United Nations Seminar in New York City and Washington D.C., worked with Boy Scout Troup #31, and ministered to many families. He was active in social concerns of his church as a draft counselor for the Flint District and a problem pregnancy counselor for Michigan clergy. He was an observer in the Flint Police Department for the Inner Faith Council and was active in the campaign that resulted in Flint open housing ordinances.
He was also an intern trainee with the Michigan Episcopal Training Network, a member of Stepping Stones Advisory Committee and the YMCA Youth Advisory Committee.
Jack retired in 1974 and continued his ministry on the staff of the Social Service Department at Flint Osteopathic Hospital. He was named director of the department in 1977. At FOH he worked with families on death & dying, assaults & abuse, crisis resolution, personal and family counseling and resource deficits. He soothed many a troubled soul while working there. He retired from FOH in 1994.
He has always had a sense of adventure. He ran 28 Crim road races and 7 marathons in Chicago, New York City, Columbus and Washington, D.C. While in New Zealand he did a bungee jump off a 14-story bridge. He has enjoyed running and canoeing, kayaking, gardening, dancing and playing the drums with Jim Hedrich.
Jack enjoyed traveling with Martha and visited more than 27 countries. He delighted in sharing his travels with his grandchildren and took six of them on their dream trips when they reached the age of 14.
He is survived by his devoted wife Martha of nearly 62 years. Sons David (Cheryl) of Mt. Prospect, IL, Mark (Virginia) of Highland Park, IL, and John of Dexter, MI. Also survived by grandchildren Anny & Ben Price, Gwen Willert, Albert, Meredith, Julia, Sarah and Nathan Price, and great grandson Tommy of Traverse City, MI. They will always treasure his quick wit and sense of humor (which many of them have inherited). He was preceded in death by his parents Harold & Hilda Price and brother William.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances should be given to Court Street United Methodist Church or the American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
The family wishes to express thanks to Western Hills Living Staff for their loving care and to the doctors, nurses, and attendants at McLaren & Hurley Hospitals and the staff of Michigan Vascular Institute and Heartland Hospice.
Jack was truly a caring and giving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He believed and lived by Matthew 25:31-40. Online tributes may be posted at plumbsmithfh.com