James Dale Abel was born April 10, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas.  He graduated from Texas Wesleyan in 1963 and then followed up with graduate studies at Emory University and divinity school at Texas Christian University. He was admitted into full membership in the Central Texas conference, ordained deacon in 1964, and ordained elder in September 1967.  He was married to Linda Sue Johnson on May 10, 1969. His appointments in Texas from 1961-1971 are listed in the archives. He was transferred to the Kansas East conference in 1972 and was appointed Executive Coordinator of the Kansas United Agency for the Developmentally Disabled (Topeka) in 1972. He was transferred to the Central Texas Conference, North District, on January 1, 1974. Rev. Abel retired after 42 years of ministry and is still active in his church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Note written by Sarah St. John