James Lee Bickerstaff

James Lee Bickerstaff, age 83, passed away February 26, 2020 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.  Mr. Bickerstaff was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 27, 1936 to J.L. Bickerstaff and Mary Ethel (Tompkins) Bickerstaff.  He graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1953, entered the United States Navy and honorably served his country from 1954-1962.  He married Daphna Elizabeth Scheidt on August 31, 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

James owned and operated Traffic Control Services of Arkansas and McKinney Radio Services. He was a member of Gideon’s International and the Church of the Nazarene.  James will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a gentle soul ready to help anyone at any time.  He was devoted to God, his family, his church and our country.  His patient spirit and "MacGyver" ingenuity were often sought out to trouble shoot household problems and electrical mishaps by friends near and across the country.  He was an avid collector of Lionel "O" gauge model trains.  James was quick with a joke and slow to get flustered.

Survivors include:
Daughter, Trina and Edgar Fink of Fort Wayne.
Daughter, Patrice Luehring of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Five grandchildren: Liz and Nate Hinsky of Fort Wayne; Andrew and Brett Fink of West Lafayette, Indiana; Rachel and Jaron Birkey of Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Michelle and David Barton of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Dakota Luehring of Little Rock, Arkansas.
Three great grandsons with one on the way.
James was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.

Visitation will be held Monday, March 2, 2020 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at Grace Point Church of the Nazarene, 8611 Mayhew Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Grace Point Church with visitation from 9:00 – 10:30 AM prior to the service. Rev. Dr. Rex Person, Rev. Dr. David Rowland, Rev. Chuck Howie, Pastor James Staggs and Pastor Edgar Fink will officiate the funeral service.
Burial with Navy honors will take place at 2:00 PM at Marion National Cemetery, Marion, Indiana.
Memorial donations may be made to Gideon’s International or Grace Point Church of the Nazarene.

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