On July 7, 2026, James Ellsworth Singleton (“Jim”) passed from this world into his eternal home, where he was welcomed by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; his beloved wife, Beverly; his father and mother; and countless dear friends. We can only imagine him standing in awe of the glory he spent a lifetime proclaiming to others, and perhaps only now discovering how many lives the Lord used him to touch during his 83 years.
Jim was born on March 26, 1943, in Duluth, Minnesota, to Glenn and Margaret (“Peggy”) Singleton and grew up in Lakeland, Florida. He attended Covenant College, where he met Beverly Kesselring, whom he married on July 1, 1966. Together they raised three children—Clay, Kirk, and Kendra—as Jim prepared for a lifetime of ministry through his studies at Covenant Theological Seminary.
Jim devoted his entire adult life to serving the Lord in pastoral ministry and other ministry roles. During the Vietnam War, he served as an Army chaplain with one year of active duty in Vietnam. He continued serving in the U.S. Army Reserve for 31 years and was later deployed to active duty during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He retired with the rank of Colonel.
Jim began his pastoral ministry at Grace Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, serving from 1971 to 1972. He was then called to Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church (Covenant Presbyterian Church) in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where he ministered from 1972 to 1978. In 1978, he was called to Calabasas Presbyterian Church (Church in the Canyon) in Southern California, where he faithfully served until 1991. He was then called back to Colorado Springs to serve as pastor of Village Seven Presbyterian Church, where he remained until his retirement from pastoral work in 1999.
Those who worshiped under Jim’s ministry remember him as a great preacher and Bible teacher with a ready laugh, and a heart for evangelism and service. He never doubted that the gospel of Jesus Christ had the power to bring hope and healing to every person.
Retirement did not slow Jim’s ministry. He continued serving through prison ministry, helped launch Courtside Ministries, and was remembered by many for portraying C.S. Lewis in several seasons of the local theater production of Shadowlands.
His family and friends perhaps remember him most for his adventurous spirit. Jim loved to travel and enjoyed planning memorable trips for family and friends, creating adventures that took them around the world and left them with great stories to tell.
Jim is survived by his brothers, Gene (Karen) Singleton and Allen (Mimi) Singleton; sisters, Connie (Bob) Banks and Suzanne (Dave) Kadtke; his children: Clay (Rita) Singleton, Kirk (Kerry) Singleton, and Kendra (Steve) Kammer; and his 18 beloved grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Hope Singleton; and by Bev, his beloved wife of 55 years.
A graveside service with full military honors for the family and close friends will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Pikes Peak National Cemetery. A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will follow at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Village Seven Presbyterian Church.