James A. Getty

1932 - 2015

James A. Getty

Born: Jan. 17, 1932; in Fairbury, IL

Died: Sept.26, 2015; in Gettysburg, PA

James A. Getty, 83, of Gettysburg, PA, died September 26, 2015, in Gettysburg.

Getty was born on January 17, 1932, in Fairbury, IL, the son of the late James Andrew and Olive A. Getty. Getty grew up in Colfax, IL and graduated from Colfax's Octavia High School. He received his Bachelors of Education Degree (Music) and his Master of Music Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Jim met his wife Joanne at IWU, and they married on January 19, 1952 in Grandview, IL. Getty began his professional vocal music career when he sang for two summers with the St. Louis Municipal Opera chorus beginning in 1950, just before entering college.

He served in the US Navy from 1952-1956, serving in the Korean War as a radioman on the minesweeper USS Swift 122.

Getty taught high school choral music in Lincoln, IL; St. Charles, IL; Old Greenwich, CT; Annandale, VA; Sandusky, OH and Naperville, IL. At the collegiate level, Getty taught choral music at Lincoln College, Lincoln, IL; Bowling Green State University (Firelands campus); and the University of Maine at Orono. Getty directed numerous church choirs throughout his career, including the choirs at Zion Lutheran Church in Sandusky, OH; and Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church in Gettysburg.

Jim and Joanne toured Europe on three occasions with high school choral music students. The choirs were composed of a 40-voice nucleus from Getty's high school choirs, along with select students from high schools across the US. The choirs performed in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy and the Netherlands. Getty's final two tours abroad were with the American Youth Symphony and Chorus.

Getty was the general manager at the children's theme park Fantasyland in Gettysburg for several summers before he moved to Gettysburg, PA in 1977 to start a small theatre called A. Lincoln's Place. There Getty performed his one-man show in a business that he and his wife created. For the past four decades, Getty's full-time vocation was the study and portrayal of Abraham Lincoln. Over the years, Jim touched countless thousands of lives with his vast knowledge of all-things Lincoln. Getty would often present his programs over 500 times each year to visitors to Gettysburg, and to students in schools. Jim later developed a leadership presentation specifically for corporate executives and government leaders, where audiences were able to capture the lessons of history and apply them in today's business environments.

Perhaps the signature piece of Getty's presentations was the "press conference", where "the President" willingly opened the floor to questions from the audience. Many newspaper and magazine columnists have written about Getty's Q & A sessions. One wrote, "The depth of his (Getty's) knowledge was astounding. None of our questions had stumped him... the crowd had not presented him with particularly easy issues."

Getty delivered the Gettysburg Address at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg each year on November 19th for several decades.

Getty presented his program at the Reagan Presidential Library, and had spoken before the Indiana and Pennsylvania State Legislatures. Getty delivered his Lincoln performances for the Delta Steamboat Company's Civil War paddle wheel cruises from 1994-2006. Getty's voice is that of President Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Getty received the Meritorious Service Award from the Grand Army of the Republic Sons of Union Veterans in 2014. That year, Jim also received the prestigious Nelson Current Award from the Lincoln Forum.

Getty was a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, American Choral Directors Association, Sons of Union Veterans, American Legion Post #202 (Gettysburg), The Lincoln Forum, Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, Adams Country Historical Society, and a life- and charter-member of A. Lincoln Presenters. Jim was a member of the Gettysburg Travel Council. He was a member of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church.

Getty is survived by his wife, Joanne; son, Charles Andrew Getty (Amy) of Fremont, OH; daughter, Margot Diane Good (Mark) of Stoutsville, OH; daughter, Marla Suzanne Getty of Powell, OH; and son, James David Getty of Columbus, OH. Also surviving are grandchildren, Michael Getty (Mary Beth), Jimmie Getty (Holly), Robert Furgeson (step-grandson), Jesse Poole, Kevin Poole (Ashley), and Kathleen Lowe (James); as well as several great-and great-great-grandchildren.

Getty was predeceased by his parents, granddaughter, Joni Elizabeth Poole; and sister-in-law, Beverly Deterding.

Jim had a passion for Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed classical music, his Navy buddies, college football, and a cold bottle of Anchor Steam from San Francisco. And oh my, how he loved the sweet smell of a new car.

People who knew Jim Getty knew of his love for his wife and his family. They knew of his love for a great joke and storytelling. They knew when he made a friend, he made a friend for life.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 2, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. from the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, 208 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg with Rev. Dr. David Wright and Rev. Louis Nyiri officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. There will be a viewing on Thursday, October 1, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg, PA and on Friday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S. (Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter).

Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.