Obituary of James Clinton Caraher

James Caraher Presbyterian Minister James Caraher, a resident of Brittany Pointe Estates, Lansdale, PA. died of pneumonia on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. He is survived by his wife Doris (Koetzle) of 71 years, two sons James Jr. and William, and a daughter Elizabeth Joy Stapleton, eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Dr. Caraher was ordained a Presbyterian minister by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1950. He served as Moderator of the Presbytery in 1977. He was the founding pastor of the Oreland Presbyterian Church, Oreland, PA. serving also as Senior Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, IL; the Union Tabernacle Church, Philadelphia; and the First Presbyterian Church of Olney, Philadelphia. After retirement in 1987 he was active in interim pastorates including service to the Disston Memorial Church, and the Wayne and Media Presbyterian Churches. Dr. Caraher received his B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Temple University. His graduate degrees include a B.D. in theology from the Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church; a Th.M. degree from Princeton Seminary; and a Ph.D. degree from the School of Religion of Temple University. In the 1975-76 publication of Who's Who in Religion, Dr. Caraher is listed among the Protestant clergy "selected for their contribution to the various activities of their faith." In 1975, he was awarded an Honor Certificate by the Freedom's Foundation at Valley Forge "for outstanding achievement in bringing about a better understanding of the American way of life." Dr. Caraher was a member of the Union League of Philadelphia for 38 years. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM on Monday March 23, 2015 at Wayside Chapel, located at the Whitemarsh Memorial Park, 1169 Limekiln Pike, Ambler, PA.