The Reverend James Burton Kendrick, 87, of 1808 Mallard Lane, Saint Marys, Ohio, and formerly of Manchester, Tennessee, died Saturday, December 6, 2008, at Lima Memorial Hospital, Lima, Ohio.

He was born December 27, 1920, in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the son of B. C. and Ruby ((Pratt) Kendrick.

He married Ida Mary Dennison on November 1, 1945; she survives at the residence.

He is survived by his two children: Rebecca (Wayne) Lybarger of New Bremen, Ohio; James (Connie) Kendrick, Jr. of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; a son-in-law, Dr. John H. Judd of Abilene, Texas; by five grandchildren: Andrea Lybarger; David Lybarger; Patricia Judd; Dr. John (Jeong) Judd; Matthew (Erin) Tunstall; by a great-grandson, John P. Judd, Jr; by two sisters: Rebecca J. Parsley of Murfreesboro, Tenn; Ruby C. Woodard of Manchester, Tenn; by two brothers: Al D. Kendrick of Mancester, Tenn; Archie Ray Kendrick of Tavares, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by two sisters, Lena Freeman and Frances Robinson; by a daughter, Patricia K. Judd; by a grandson, John Howard Judd III.

Reverend Kendrick, a veteran of World War II, served 22 years in the United States Navy before retiring in 1959. He graduated from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee and received his Masters of Divinity at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Before retiring in 1984, he served as an ordained elder in seven churches of the United Methodist Church, West Ohio Conference. In retirement he enjoyed reading and studying his Bibles and fishing. He held a General Class License, N5XOD, as a ham radio operator. In 2007, he and Ida Mary moved from their home on Woodbury Highway in Manchester, Tennessee to Otterbein Retirement Community in Saint Marys.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 noon on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at the Coffee County Funeral Home, 786 McMinnville Highway, Manchester, Tennessee. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens, Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Friends may call from 5-7 P.M. Monday, December 8, 2008, in the Mediation Room at Otterbein Saint Marys Retirement Community and also 10:00 A.M. until noon on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be directed to Otterbein Saint Marys Benevolence Fund in care of Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, Ohio, 45885.