James Dwight Trumble

Born in Sandstone Township, Jackson County, Michigan on June 1, 1937 to Howard and Florence Trumble, he was the youngest of six children. He grew up on a small subsistence farm and after graduating from high school in 1955, became the first member of his family to go to college.

Partway through his college career, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for six years including time on the crew of the USS Henry Clay, a nuclear submarine. He was scheduled to separate from the Navy in September, 1965 but due to the Vietnam War, his enlistment was extended.

It was during this extended time of service, in October 1965, when his life changed forever. In God’s providence, the Navigators had recently been granted permission to share the gospel on the base. On the first night of their ministry, two Navigator men were going door to door in the barracks. They knocked on Jim’s door and presented the Gospel to him. He sensed that God was calling him so he prayed to receive Christ as his Savior that night, and served Jesus faithfully for the remainder of his life.

After he finished his navy commitment, he spent some time working at Glen Eyrie. He met Gladys Gilbert, who was there for a summer discipleship program, and they began a storybook romance. Much of their courtship was conducted through letters as she returned to her teaching job in California, and he went to Kalamazoo, Michigan to finish his bachelor’s degree They were married in 1969. They had their first child, Dan in 1970. After graduation in 1971, Jim, Gladys and baby Dan moved to Colorado Springs to work full-time for the Navigators. Amy joined the family in 1972. They spent ten good years together before cancer claimed Gladys’ life in 1979. For the next eleven years, Jim dedicated himself to making a home for Dan and Amy.

In addition to working, and caring for his home and family, he served as a deacon and an elder at Grace Presbyterian Church.

Jim and Herma Barnhart were long-time friends from church. In 1990, God granted Jim’s desire to marry Herma. Jim used this line from a hymn to describe his feelings for Herma, “Hast Thou not seen how they desire’s ‘ere have been granted in what he ordaineth.” For the next thirty-four years, Jim and Herma rejoiced in their relationship with each other and their large, blended family. Jim and Herma shared daily rhythms in the morning and evening that included Scripture reading and prayer. God was at the center of their relationship from start to finish.

Jim was a warm, kind, loving and faithful man of God who will be missed.

Jim is survived by wife Herma, son Dan (Beth) Trumble and Amy (Andy) Leong and step-children Steve (Melinda) Barnhart, Cindy (Dave) Leupp, Marty (Gwen) Barnhart, Bonnie (Bill) Chambers, Connie (Steve) Anderson, Polly (Greg) Nasrallah, and Shirley (Jeff) Lewis. He and Herma share over 110 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Village Seven Presbyterian Church.

Please note that this is a change from the original date of November 8 due to weather concerns.

The service will be livestreamed and can be found here:

The service will be livestreamed and can be found by here: https://boxcast.tv/view/jim-trumble-memorial-service-vhnqwwkyzhh6tqevnenn?fbclid=IwY2xjawGbOZBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXRTeCb94FG41twkkDFFljjOQ4gML6rYNdgo4RmX6ZTm0Z5yaj6_8Z-1aQ_aem_IUKMYjWN0ahay3QG_w2X1g

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the following ministries:

The Navigators https://www.navigators.org; Evangel Christian Academy https://ecaeagles.org; Save the Storks https://savethestorks.com