James B. Herendeen

El Paso, TX: James B. Herendeen, Professor Emeritus at The Pennsylvania State University, died at age 85 on July 9, 2016. Beloved father, husband and professor, James (Jim) was born into a large Quaker farming family during the great depression, one of ten brothers and sisters. He was a quiet man whose love of learning and strong intellect led to a successful academic career. He was dedicated to his family and community.

Jim began his education in a one-room schoolhouse in Farmington, NY, graduated from Victor Central High School in 1949 and graduated from the College of Agriculture, Cornell University in 1953. He went on to receive his MS degree in Agricultural Economics in 1960 from Iowa State University and his PhD, in Agricultural Economics from Pennsylvania State University in 1963.

In 1960 he married Joanne Toedt of Laurel, Iowa, and this year they were planning their 56th wedding anniversary. Jim was a devoted husband and father who had a passion for economics, reading, and ballroom dancing. With Joanne, he raised three children – Lisa, Julie and Joseph – all of who benefited from his love of learning. His hometown of Farmington NY and his family and friends there held a special place in his heart and he often returned to visit.

Jim was an economics professor at Pennsylvania State University from 1963 to 1992. He was well known for his classes in microeconomics, macroeconomics, money and banking and corporate economics. From 1992 to 2002, Jim continued his teaching career as a visiting professor of economics at the University of Texas, El Paso.

He authored and edited four books: Modern Political Economy, Ideas and Issues, The Economics of the Corporate Economy, Money and the Financial System, and Issues in Economics: an Introduction. Also, he is a former president of the Pennsylvania Economic Association and the Rio Grande Economics Association and was a long time member of the American Economic Association.

In addition to his academic career at the University of Texas, El Paso, Jim and Joanne got involved in their community by joining the University Presbyterian Church and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For six years Jim served as a board member of the El Paso Mental Health and Mental Retardation (EPMHMR).

He is survived by his wife, Joanne Toedt Herendeen of El Paso, TX; his daughter Lisa Herendeen Wojtowicz of Emerald Hills, CA; daughter Julie Herendeen Walther of Palo Alto, CA; and son Joseph Michael Herendeen of El Paso, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jamie and Daniel Wojtowicz and Parker and Fiona Walther. His sisters, Margaret Hartsough and Alice Brouse and brothers, Richard Herendeen, Nathan

Herendeen and Stanley Herendeen also survive him. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Arthur and Leora Herendeen, and his brothers Allen, George, Charles and Clarence Herendeen.

He will be greatly missed by his many family members, friends and colleagues.

A funeral service will be held, Saturday (August 6th) at 1:00 pm at the Farmington Friends Church, 187 Co. Rd. 8, Farmington New York. Interment in Farmington Friends Cemetery. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.murphyfuneralservices.com.