James Allen Selby

November 29, 1953 - January 3, 2023
James Allen Selby, 69, died January 3, 2023, at his home in Overland Park, KS surrounded by loving family after a short battle with cancer.
Jim was born November 29, 1953, in Fort Belvoir, VA to Beverly and Donald Selby. He became a Christian as a young boy but had what he described as a spiritual renewal when he was 19 years old after watching the film about the life of St. Francis. From that point on, Jim was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
He graduated from Clackamas High School in Clackamas, OR. He went on to Oral Roberts University to earn degrees in English Literature and New Testament and later attended Gordon Conwell Seminary and earned his Master of Divinity in 1981. Upon his graduation from seminary, Jim pastored Winter Hill Baptist Church in Somerville, MA for four years.
He married Elaine Dittman on July 29, 1978, and together they had four children, Andrew, Philip, Emily, and Kristin. Jim was a devoted father and husband, loving and caring for Elaine their entire marriage. He was immensely proud of each of his children and told them so frequently. Jim was also "Poppy" to his seven cherished grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with each of them, whether taking them out for individual dates, letting them help with projects for his aquarium, or attending their sporting events and activities.
Jim had many accomplishments, but the thing that will be remembered most is his character. He was a firm foundation for his family, friends, and colleagues. He was gentle and kind and seemed to always be able to get to the heart of a matter and offer loving wisdom to whomever he was with. Jim was a man of integrity and principle. He was deeply compassionate and had a rich prayer life; he started each day praying for family, friends, students, and world issues. In his last years, a deepened softness entered Jim's heart, and those who knew him were struck by the ways he grew in compassion and humility. He loved to share food and conversation, whether it was gathering around the table with his family each night for dinner, hosting newcomers to the community for a meal, leading Great Books groups with Elaine, or enjoying a movie with the Whitefield senior class in his living room with chili and cornbread. Later in life, Jim loved to sit outdoors by the fire or smoke a pipe while sharing conversation with friends and family.
Jim worked at Whitefield Academy in Kansas City, MO since 2001. Whitefield was more than a job for Jim; it was his passion and ministry. His love for his students and colleagues was unmatched. Jim held the words of St. Augustine close to his heart that the greatest duty of a teacher is to love his student. Jim, inspired by the words of John Milton, worked diligently to "repair the ruins of our first parents in order to know God aright".
When Jim became part of a new classical Christian school in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in 1999 he realized a need for a better way to teach students how to write. Providentially, he discovered that a syllabus from an ancient rhetorician named Aphthonius was extant. He took Aphthonius' 14 stage writing program, the Progymnasmata, and devised lessons for modern teachers and students. Eventually, Jim's curriculum was published by Memoria Press and is widely used in classical schools and home schools today.
Jim has published papers about the Progymnasmata and other aspects of classical Christian pedagogy on academic websites being read by scholars around the world. He was a member of the International Society for the History of Rhetoric and presented papers to audiences in Germany and France, as well as the U.S. He was a man of many interests; enjoying walks with his wife, seeing new movies and finding new television shows, watching a variety of sports, but especially soccer (and continuing to attend Whitefield sporting events long after his own children had graduated). Jim built a 1,000-gallon saltwater aquarium from scratch in his basement, complete with tropical fish and stunning coral.
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Donald, his father- and mother-in-law, Marvin and Bette Dittman, and his nephew, Robby Selby.
Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elaine, his children, Andrew (Malea), Philip, Emily, and Kristin, his grandchildren, Dana, James, Kentania, Luke, John, Monica, and Paul, his mother, Beverly, his brother, Scott (Janie), his sister, Kathryn (Mark), his brother-in-law, Brad Dittman, his nieces, Marie (Tim) and Natasha, and nephew, Eric (Emma).
A memorial service for Jim will be held Saturday, January 14 at 10:00am at Christ Church Anglican, 5500 W 91 St. Overland Park, KS 66207. Jim's memorial service will be live streamed here:
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Selby Memorial Scholarship, which will provide help with tuition at Whitefield Academy for needs-based students with preference given to minority students. Donate HERE or checks can be mailed to 8929 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO 64131 and in the memo "Selby Memorial Scholarship".
Or
Christ Church Anglican, supporting medical missions. Checks can be mailed to 5500 W 91 St Overland Park, KS 66207. Give online HERE. Select "Missions" and in the memo "Katie Rhoads".