Please note that there has been a change in time for Rev. Jim Sprouse’s memorial service. It will be held Sat., May 30, at 12noon, at Bon Air United Methodist Church, 1645 Buford Rd., N. Chesterfield, VA 23235.
James Clarence Sprouse, Jr., 78, died May 7, 2026, following a sudden illness. He was a United Methodist pastor for 52 years, the beloved husband of Molly Carpenter Sprouse, and devoted father to Catherine Elizabeth Sprouse, Emily Rebekah Sprouse, and Daniel Patrick Sprouse; father-in-law to Ellen Chen, Mariusz Cieplinski and Tina Lee Sprouse; and grandfather to Ashlynn Sprouse, Charlotte Sprouse, Julia Cieplinski, Bridget Cieplinski and Henryk Cieplinski. His first wife, Patricia Beard Sprouse, died in 1996.
Jim was a diehard Wahoo, a lifelong scholar and dedicated theologian, a gifted preacher and compassionate pastor, a romantic poet, an avid bird watcher and feeder of squirrels, a loving pet parent and an unrepentant potato chip addict. He was a man with impeccable taste except in footwear and bad movies; he had a beautiful voice, a gift for mimicry, a fondness for nicknames and a sense of humor so broad it had no limits.
In his 52 years of ministry, Jim served the Schuyler/Greene Mountain Charge, Willis United Methodist Church, Bon Air UMC, Aldersgate UMC, Emmanuel UMC and United Christian Parish. He was senior pastor at Trinity UMC in McLean for 23 years before retiring, and served at Huguenot UMC until his death.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held Sat., May 30, at 12 p.m., at Bon Air United Methodist Church, 1645 Buford Rd., N. Chesterfield, Va. 23235. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to Martha’s Table in Washington, DC, or Best Friends Animal Society.