James P Lukens

A memorial service celebrating the life of James P. Lukens, 80, of Newark, will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville with Rev. Bob Long and Rev. Casey Wilson as celebrants. The family will receive friends following the service in Shepherd Hall at the church.

Throughout his life Jim was in sales, marketing and a self-published author - his works often appearing in the newspaper and his four books of poetry. His community always enjoyed his creative way of describing the places they lived, worked and worshiped, earning him the title from an Ohio Governor as “The Buckeye Poet.”

Jim passed away Sunday, May 8, 2022 at Otterbein Senior Living, Granville. He was born in Dover, Ohio to the late Joseph D. and Virginia Lukens.

Jim always walked out his faith, whether it be leading a church group or offering someone a free lunch and a prayer. Later in life Jim became a member of Centenary Church and enjoyed singing in the choir and having long prayer meetings over coffee. Civically, he was a life-time trustee and past president of the Licking County Historical Society and a member of Newark Lions.

Jim was a passionate writer and member of the Ohioana Library Association as a Buckeye Poet of Ohio and many guest columns in the Newark Advocate. He was an avid reader and scholar, his personal library decorated with books of theology and world history. Jim coined his beloved creative area his “poet's loft” and you would find treasures from around the world and community on display, whether it be letters from The Pope, or thank you cards from grandkids, all were prized possessions.

Jim leaves behind his wife Anne Belknap Lukens; daughter and son-in-law Carolyn and Craig Figi; grandchildren Helen Figi and Hannah (Figi) and Michael Williams; brother Joseph Lukens and (wife) Marcia; brother in-law William Belknap and (wife) Joyce; brother in-law David Belknap and (wife) Kathy, and sister in-law Jane Hill and (husband) Chris.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Lynda (Lukens) Fitch.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centenary U.M. Church, Licking County Historical Society, P.O. Box 785, Newark, OH 43058 or Hospice of Central Ohio, P.O. Box 430, Newark, OH 43058.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.