James Arlie “Jim” Fagin of Tipp City, Ohio, age 77, passed away Friday, August 28, 2026 at Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County. He was born January 6, 1949 in Cram Creek, Kentucky to Thelma Faye Wampler and Herbert Hatton. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, his adopted father Gerald Fagin, his beloved wife Gretchen {Van Patten} Fagin and his four siblings: Jerry, Rock, Chuck, and Toni Fagin. Jim is survived by his children James Jason (Alice) Fagin of Tipp City, Elizabeth (James) Dickey of Mancos, Colorado, and Emilie (Brian) Minarcik of Pacific Grove, California. His is also survived by his grandchildren Sophia Dickey, Elaine and Wyatt Fagin, and Itzy and Bowie Minarcik.

Jim was a man of deep faith and was an active and devoted member of Ginghamsburg Church. His faith was an important part of his life, and he found great joy in his church community. Called to be a missionary, he took his wife and family to Kenya, were he served as the president of Kima Theological College in Kima, Kenya. He will also be remembered for his creative children’s sermons and his love of leading adult bible study.

A pioneer in the field of Criminal Justice, Jim dedicated more than 40 years of his life to higher education as a college professor and Dean of Graduate Studies. Throughout his distinguished career, he taught at the University of Kansas; Wichita State University; Kima Theological College in Kima, Kenya; Chaminade University of Honolulu; East Stroudsburg University; and Lincoln College. He was also the author of Criminal Justice, a respected textbook that was used in college classrooms to educate generations of students in the field.

Beyond his professional life, Jim was involved in his community and was a member of the Rotary Club in Bloomington, Illinois, and the Arkansas Cruiser’s Riding Club in Little Rock, Arkansas. He had a genuine love for motorcycles and enjoyed all things related to them. Despite his protestations to the contrary, he deeply loved dogs. He also enjoyed traveling the world with his family in tow, and appreciated the simple pleasure of sharing and enjoying a good meal.

Jim will be remembered for his strong faith, dedication to education, love of motorcycles and travel, and the many lives he touched throughout his long and meaningful career, as well as for his uniquely dry sense of humor. His legacy will live on through his students, friends, family, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

There will be no formal services at this time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Frings and Bayliff Funeral Home, Tipp City. In lieu of flowers the family suggests anyone making memorial contributions in Jim’s honor to please consider, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ablelaw.org) or the local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG.org). Online condolences may be expressed at www.fringsandbayliff.com.