James R. Konkle, 68, of St. Petersburg, passed away peacefully Friday, December 8, 2017.

Jim was born in Oil City on June 12, 1949, the son of the late Donald S. and Elsie Summerville Konkle.

Jim spent his life in St. Petersburg and graduated from Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School in 1967.

He worked summers at Quaker State Refining Corporation in Emlenton to put himself through college.

He loved working there and was most proud of it.

He graduated from Clarion State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and continued his education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Westminster College.

Jim taught at Brookville Jr./Sr. High School for nearly 40 years.

He taught economics, world cultures, American foreign policy, American government, world cultural geography, American history, psychology and sociology.

In later years he mostly taught about the Civil War.

He was a cooperating teacher for Clarion University’s student teacher’s program for many years and was department chair for the social studies department.

Jim was a member of the PSEA and NEA.

Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, and discussing local history.

He was an avid CB and licensed ham radio operator.

Jim was a member and attended the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church.

He was a member of Canby Lodge #520 F&AM in St. Petersburg, having served as past master.

He was also a member of the Venango Lodge of Perfection in Oil City and the Scottish Rite of New Castle.

He was a member of the St. Petersburg Fire Co. and had served as forest fire warden. Jim served on the school board of the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District for many years.

Jim is survived by his wife, Linda Stewart Bowser Konkle, whom he married at the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church on March 14, 1981.

Also surviving are three children, Joe Konkle and his wife, Jennifer, of Mont Holly, NC, Reid Bowser of St. Petersburg, and Jessica Bowser Kerlin and her husband, Patrick, of St. Petersburg; four grandchildren, Samantha Lutz, Tricia Kerlin, Aiden and Raina Bowser; a brother-in-law, Thomas Horner of Oil City, as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Konkle and his wife, Janet; his sister, Connie Horner, and his in-laws, Leo and Pauline Stewart.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 802 Grove Street, St. Petersburg, from 5 – 8 p.m. Monday.

A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Douglas Brink, pastor of St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, officiating.

Interment will follow at the St. Petersburg Cemetery.

Members of the Parker Allegheny Valley Canby Lodge #521 F&AM will conduct a memorial service for their departed brother at 8:00 p.m. Monday evening.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Petersburg Volunteer Fire Co., PO Box 82, St. Petersburg, PA 16054.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.