James Wesley Angel Jr., 90, formally of Springfield, Mo. passed away at his home in Topeka, Ks. on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

James, the son of James Wesley Angel Sr. and Gracie Lee (Ingram) Angel was born November 21, 1928 in Clarita, Oklahoma.

James was known by his family as "J.R.", but to friends and colleagues as "Jay" or "Jim".

Jim grew up in Wapanucka, Oklahoma and graduated from Wapanucka High School where he played basketball and enjoyed life in small-town rural America. After graduation he joined the United States Air Force in 1946. During his tour of duty in Frankfurt Germany, he met and married Martha H. Rauth. They married November 6, 1948. Shortly after arriving back in the states, Jim was diagnosed with service connected Tuberculosis. As a tuberculin patient, he was sent to Springfield, Mo. for treatment at the O'Reilly Army Hospital. Martha moved to Springfield to be near Jim (whom she called Jay) and during that time they both accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. After his successful treatment and discharge from the Air Force, Jim enrolled in Springfield's Baptist Bible College and began his long career as pastor and missionary. He and Martha attended High Street Baptist Church, but eventually started a small church on the corner of Texas St. and Brower in Springfield. The church began to grow and needed a larger building. Southern Heights Bible Church moved to a building on S. Jefferson where it remains today. Jim served as pastor of the church for 20 years.

Jim and Martha had always felt the Lord was calling them to the mission field in Germany. Martha was a German national and had a passion for the salvation of her family as well as the German people. So they applied for missionary service through Greater European Fellowship now know as Biblical Ministries Worldwide. They were accepted and began their preparation for service overseas. They left for the mission field in 1974. Jim attended language school for 2 years in Murnau, Bavaria, later served as supporting missionaries in Wilheim, Bavaria until their return in 1986. Because of Martha's health issues, they decided to move to Topeka, Ks. to be near their daughter.

Jim soon became a missionary pastor for the Open Door Bible Church in Topeka, Ks. and moved into the parsonage provided by the church until his death. When Jim retired as lead pastor in 2016, the church became Still Waters Church under the leadership of a new pastor. Jim continued to support the ministry by teaching bible studies at the church and local nursing homes on a weekly basis until his recent health decline. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He will be missed.

Jim is survived by his children: Trudy Rosenburg and husband, Russell of Topeka, Ks., Andy A. Angel and wife Teresa of Morrisville, Mo.; Grandchildren: Scott Angel, Jared Angel and wife Holly, Justin Angel and wife Janelle, Joshua Angel and wife Megan, Courtney Wallis and Crissy Husted; great grandchildren: Bradey, Chesnee, Khloe, Gavin, Hadley, Evan, Ian, Abby, Lilly, Leah, Louis, Eli, Zoa, Ethan, Keaton, Jacob, Matthew and Nolan; one surviving sister, Anna Romines of Pixley, California.

Jim was preceded in death: by his parents, his wife Martha, his son Bruce, 4 brothers and 3 sisters.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jim's name to Biblical Ministries Worldwide through Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home.