The Rev. Dr. Patrick Edward Napier

The Rev. Dr. Patrick Edward Napier, 88, joined the church triumphant at 8:20 a.m. Sept. 6, 2014, in Bowling Green after a brief illness.

Pat’s survivors include his three children, daughter Pamela E. Napier (Joe Stites) of Bowling Green and Decatur, Ga.; daughter L J Van Belkum (Jim Van Belkum) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and son David E. Napier (Haidee S. Napier) of Colonial Heights, Va. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jim Napier Stites of Houston, Miss., David Napier Stites of Bowling Green, Ashley Nicole Napier of Williamsburg, Va., Kevin Andrew Napier and Benjamin Warren Napier of Colonial Heights, Va., J. Alexander Van Belkum and Hannah Elaine Van Belkum of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Pat was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Hazard (Perry County), Kentucky. His parents, Elhannon and Armina Miller Napier, preceded him in death, as did his wife, Irene Turner Napier, and his grandson, Michael Edward Van Belkum.

He graduated from Highland High School at Guerrant (Breathitt County), Kentucky, in 1943. He earned a B.S. in agriculture from Berea College and a master’s, specialist and doctorate in education at the University of Kentucky.

During WWII he served as a staff officer in the Merchant Marines for three years and visited 15 countries. During the Korean War he served for two years in the Army with service in Korea.

Pat served in Kentucky schools for 32 years. He was a teacher at Highland in Breathitt County, Stuart Robinson School in Letcher County, and at the Green River Boys Camp in Butler County. His principalships included Butler School in Pendleton County and Madison School in Richmond. He was also the superintendent for Burgin Independent Schools in Mercer County, Hopkinsville City School District in Christian County and the Butler County School District. He was a life member of the National Education Association, the Kentucky Association of School Administrators and the Kentucky High School Coaches Association. He was also a Kentucky Colonel.

Pat was an active member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. He was a deacon for 10 years and elder for 29 years. After retiring from the field of education at the age of 60, he was ordained as a minister by the Presbytery of Western Kentucky, where he served as installed pastor of Newstead Presbyterian Church at Gracey, stated supply of Mount Lebanon and Pine Grove Presbyterian Churches and as interim at First Presbyterian Church of Russellville. He also served White’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in Berea and the Guerrant Memorial Presbyterian Church in Jackson in the Presbytery of Transylvania.

During college he was a member of the Berea College Country Dancers and he continued this interest for many years. He taught Appalachian square dancing at the Berea Christmas Dance School for over 50 years. The Country Dance and Song Society of America presented him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions as “a teller of tales, an inspirational teacher of Eastern Kentucky history, traditions, music, and dance, a generous mentor and living legend.” He was named a Berea College Distinguished Alumnus in 2011. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and volunteering as an instructor in AARP’s Driver Safety Program.

Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m today at The Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green. Memorial service will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Guerrant Memorial Presbyterian Church in Jackson, with visitation preceding the service from 10 a.m. to noon. Interment of the ashes will follow in the Walter G. Turner Cemetery on Elsome Creek in Breathitt County. A special celebration of the life of Pat Napier will take place in Berea during the Berea College Christmas Country Dance School at the end of December.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to the stained glass window restoration fund at Guerrant Memorial Presbyterian Church; P.O. Box 986; Jackson, KY 41339. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the J.C. Kirby & Son, Broadway Avenue chapel.