James Baumgardner

James G. Baumgardner
1954 ~ 2011

James G. Baumgardner, 56, of Shippensburg, died on May 9, 2011, at the Chambersburg Hospital.

Born on November 10, 1954, in Gettysburg, a son of Clyde “Jim” and Darleen Baumgardner. A 1978 graduate of Frostburg State University, James received his Bachelors degree in physical education. While James attended college, he worked for the U.S. Park Service, restoring some of the buildings at the Gettysburg Battlefield to their period specifications.

He was presently employed at the McCune Lumber Company, Shippensburg, since 2002. Earlier in life he had worked for the Morton Building Company, New Oxford, as well as the Beistle Company, Shippensburg.

James was the founder of the Shippensburg Area Civil War Roundtable, which led to the founding of Shippensburg’s March to Destiny: Civil War Living History Encampment. He very much enjoyed working with his hands; cooking, creating reconstructive sculpture, and miniature scale models. At his core he was an idea person, artistic in his own right, a collector of art, and extremely creative….a very eclectic individual. A warm, generous, and charismatic person, he loved to serve people. Some of the best memories involved time spent vacationing with his family and friends at Cape Hatteras, NC.

He is survived by his wife, Aletha Chamberlin Baumgardner, whom he married on December 31, 2006, at Shippensburg’s Spring Yard Gazebo Park; five siblings, Susan (Gerald) Baumgardner-Sanders, Barry L. Baumgardner, Betty L. (Steven) Weldy, Lisa K. Baumgardner, and Gary L. (Amy) Baumgardner; two step-children, Gretchen A. (Gary) Wease of Chambersburg and Nathan S. (Carole) Strite of Waynesboro; four grandsons, Casey R., Devin J., Drew C., and Jude I. Wease, all of Chambersburg; his parents-in-law, Lloyd and Mary Chamberlin of Chambersburg, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, May 14, 2011, at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Inc., Shippensburg. Pastor Doug Lehman will officiate. Interment will be in the Spring Hill Cemetery. Viewing will be Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to March to Destiny c/o: the Shippensburg Historical Society at 52 West King Street Shippensburg, PA 17257. The family requests the omission of flowers. Please donate in James honor, instead.