Rev. James Bailey Obituary

The Rev. James B. Bailey, 95, of Bridgeville, formerly of Monongahela, died Thursday, February 19, 2026 in his home. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Charles and Edna Flau Bailey, he spent his teen years in Triadelphia High School excelling at tennis, basketball, and academics. He matriculated at Ohio University where he was an active member of the student body through the Varsity Tennis Team and membership of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

After graduation from Ohio University, he completed his 2-year ROTC service in Frankfurt, Germany, where he was converted to Christ and began what would become a life-long service of his faith and community. After theological training at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Boston University, and Harvard, he catered to congregations across the Northeast and Midwest including the First Presbyterian Church in Monongahela (retired 1996) and the Calvary United Presbyterian Church in Donora (retired 2015).

His hobbies throughout the years included tennis, drama, and international travel. In his later years, he could often be found giving military history lectures across the Mon Valley.

He is survived by his children, Jonathan Bailey and wife, Carla, of Denver, Colorado, Bonnie Danni of Buffalo, New York; granddaughter, Danelle Augustynek and husband, Daniel; great-grandchildren, Michael and Madeline.

In addition to his parents, Rev. Bailey was preceded in death by his wife, Sally (Stefus) Bailey, and his son, Jaim Andrew. 

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela, 609 Chess Street, Monongahela, PA 15063.

Rev. Bailey will be privately inurned next to his beloved wife in the Monongahela Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the Frye Funeral Home, Inc.

Rev. Bailey’s Life Verse was 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!”