John H. Felder, Sr.
Born April 17, 1924. Died Dec. 17, 2014.
Pastor with Independent Missionary Baptist Church, 52-year Colorado Springs resident. Survived by his wife, Gladys; two sons, John H. Jr. and Martin; and five daughters, Shirley James, Mildred Thompson, Rhonda Felder, Tina Felder-Jordan and Yvette Binford. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Wednesday, New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 5485 Alegre Street. Visitation 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 23, Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. Burial, Fort Logan National Cemetery.
__________________________________________________________
Pastor John H. (Thunder) Felder Sr. is a native of Conroe, Texas. He was the first son born to the union of the late Deacon Henry and Carrie Bell Felder. Pastor Felder attended public schools in both Conroe and Galveston, Texas.
After joining the United States Army and serving tours in the United States and foreign countries, he and Gladys arrived at Fort Carson (Colorado Springs) Colorado in June 1963 and he retired as a Sergeant First Class on January 31, 1965 after serving 22 years.
Pastor Emeritus Felder was united in holy matrimony on April 16, 1952 to Gladys, and to this union the Lord gave them nine children: John Jr., Brenda, Mildred, Rhonda, Ashley, Tina, Yvette, Martin and Shirley. From these nine children and their spouses Pastor Felder and Gladys have 17 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Pastor Emeritus Felder was called in June 1989 as Pastor of the Independent Missionary Baptist Church and was installed in August 1989. In addition to Pastoring, Pastor Felder served as First Vice President of the State Convention for five years and moderator of the Pikes Peak District Association for four years. On December 14, 2008 he retired from Pastoring after serving his church, community, and state, in many ways glorifying God and uplifting the name and principle of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Well done, servant of God!