James P. “Jim” McGinnis, 65, of Beaver, passed away at home unexpectedly on January 9th, 2025. 
He was born in Pittsburgh on December 14th, 1959, the son of Mary and the late Michael L. McGinnis. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Keith DeVaughn. Jim was married in 1991 to his wife of 33 years, Jan, serving and traveling with her in their work in Covenant Players. In addition to his wife and his mother, he is survived by his brother, Tom (Laura) McGinnis, sisters, Mary DeVaughn, Eileen (Robert) Frankel and Rosemary McGinnis, three goddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews. 
James attended Quigley Catholic High School, graduating in 1978, and received degrees in speech communications and business administration from Geneva College in 1982. During his high school and college years he was involved in numerous school and community play productions, and created and performed magic shows in various venues. 
His career path took him to Covenant Players, a Christian drama ministry, where he served in a number of capacities for nearly 40 years. As an actor, he performed in small- and large-cast plays throughout the U.S. and Canada. As a graphic artist, he created, by hand, scores of posters for the ministry’s training productions. As a leader, he led individual touring teams and served for over three years as Regional Director for work in the UK and Ireland. After retirement from Covenant Players, James worked as a driver for two different organizations, delivering pharmacy orders and, later, delivering people to healthcare appointments. 
He was a notorious cinephile, loving films from a wide variety of eras and genres. With a keen memory, he could recall and share lines from favorite movies with ease. Additionally, he loved to read, was quick with all types of trivia, and in 2018 fulfilled a lifelong dream of being invited to compete on Jeopardy! 
 
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. until the time of a memorial service at 6 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home Inc., 333 Third Street, Beaver, on Friday, January 17th. Gentlemen are invited to wear bow ties in in Jim’s honor. Online condolences may be shared at www.nollfuneral.com. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jim’s name to Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association, 3582 Brodhead Rd #201, Monaca, PA 15061, or Animal Friends Animal Shelter, 562 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.