James "Jim"  Eldon Bartlow, 87, of Steelville, MO passed away Sunday, November 20, 2011 at Gibbs Care Center in Steelville. He was born in St. Louis, MO on December 18, 1923 to Granville J. and Essie Maude (Eye) Bartlow.  He moved to Leadwood, MO as a boy where his father worked as a brick layer and carpenter in the lead mines. Jim graduated from high school in 1943 and joined the U.S. Navy serving aboard the U.S.S. Chenango, an escort aircraft carrier during WWII. On December 7, 1944 in Leadwood, MO he was united in marriage to Virginia Lee Breyer and was married sixty-one years upon her death in December 2005.

Jim was baptized in November 1936 at the First Baptist Church in Leadwood during a two-week revival. He continued to live his faith, ordained as a Deacon in 1950 at Cantwell Baptist Church. He sang in the church choir along with his wife and also sang bass in the church quartet. He also served as a Deacon Emeritus for the last four years at the Steelville First Baptist Church with a total of fifty-seven years in that ministry.  Mr. Jim was known to pray with and for residents on a regular basis during his years at Gibbs Care Center.

He worked as a baker, and oil delivery truck driver and as a miner for the St. Joe/Doe Run Lead Company for many years. His last job was as a school bus aide for the Steelville School District where he also was a volunteer, encouraging students to "do your homework' and "stay in school."

Jim loved to travel, garden, watch auto racing, ice hockey and his St. Louis Cardinals.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Virginia; and two brothers Lloyd Bartlow and wife Louise and Lynn Bartlow and wife Edith.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his son James "Jim" Bartlow and wife Diane of Clinton, MD; daughter Sharon England and husband Terry of Steelville, MO; five grandchildren Denise Bartlow and Christina Bartlow of Clinton, MD, Brad England and wife Amy of Steelville, MO, Ben England and wife Becky of Inchelium, WA and Jared England of Wentzville, MO; six great-grandchildren Katy and Meghan Sheehan, Elijah, Abby, Conner and Emma England; two special nieces Sue McFarland of Newburg, MO and Carolyn Adams of Graceville, FL; other nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

The Family received friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at the First Baptist Church in Steelville, MO with Rev. Kevin Farr officiating. Special music of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Old Rugged Cross" was sung by Hal Rhea and accompanied on piano by Connie Rhea. At the conclusion of the service,  "Amazing Grace" was played on bagpipes by Rob Bowness.

Committal prayer and interment with full military honors were conducted by the U.S. Navy, VFW Post 6966 of Potosi and American Legion Riders in the St. Francois Memorial Park in Bonne Terre, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Terry England, Brad England, Ben England, Jared England, Jack England and Arthur Cook. Honorary casket bearers were Gary Skaggs, Art Zigler, Paul Hogan and the Deacons of the First Baptist Church.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral  Home of Steelville, MO.