Bishop J. Richard Bass Sr. – Monongahela
Bishop J. Richard Bass Sr., 78, of Monongahela, departed this life on Monday, March 8, 2021, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was born on Aug. 19, 1942, in Pittsburgh, to Joseph Edison Bass Sr. and Mary Velma Watts Bass and was raised in a family of 10 children, nurtured with love and spiritual guidance. Richard graduated in 1960 from Monessen High School, where he was a standout athlete. He was a Westmoreland County Football All-Star and was inducted into the Monessen High School Quarterback Hall of Fame. Also, he was a graduate of the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy and the Pittsburgh Barber School – becoming a barber in high demand. Richard was employed by the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation in the accounting and production control departments. After 32 years of employment, he retired and focused on full-time ministry. He was married to the former Delphia Frezzell, with whom he enjoyed a blessed covenant relationship. Richard highly regarded Delphia as his dedicated ministry partner, treasured ally and dearest friend. Answering the call to ministry, he was ordained in 1981. Subsequent to a ministry apprenticeship under the tutelage of Bishop J. E. Bass Sr. at Gate of Heaven, he established Holy Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Monongahela in 1996. In less than one year, the church celebrated the burning of its mortgage. And in 2014, God favored them with a new worship edifice, located at 503 Sixth St. in Monongahela. Bishop Bass enjoyed the grace and favor of God, which directed and empowered his ministry. He was steadfast in faith and dependent on God to strengthen and sustain them through the years. In addition to four decades of active ministry, Bishop Bass served as director of Churches United for Change and as board member for the Monongahela Valley Branch of the NAACP. In his denomination, he participated with distinction, serving as executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. In August 2017, he was consecrated as a Bishop in the United Pentecostal Holiness College of Apostles and Bishops. He was appointed as Jurisdictional Prelate in Pennsylvania and selected both as an executive board member and a Provincial Bishop, supervising numerous states. Bishop Bass left indelible footprints in the sands of time, embracing the spiritual mantle and teaching traditions of his father. He walked in communion with Christ, as a genuine churchman and a dedicated disciple. And he loved his family dearly, holding them in high esteem. Bishop Bass was predeceased by his parents and two siblings, Wilma J. Bass-Keys and Lloyd Dwight Bass. To honor his life legacy, he leaves behind his beloved wife of 31 years, Delphia Frezzell Bass; four sons: John R. “Ricky” Bass Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., Jason Bass of Dearborn, Mich., Jonathan Bass of Irwin and Taylor Bass of Los Angeles, Calif.; also four daughters, Kathy (Anthony) White of Monessen, Devitta “Dee-Dee” (James) Edwards of Terre Haute, Ind., Stacie Bass Long of Charleroi and LaToya (Stacey) Dennis of Philadelphia; along with four brothers, three sisters and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, colleagues and friends. Family and friends will be received from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at the Holy Tabernacle COGIC, 503 6th St., Monongahela, PA 15063. A private family service will be held at a later time and interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Final celebrations are entrusted to MARSHALL MARRA FUNERAL HOME, 216 Chess St., Monongahela, PA 15063, 724-258-6767, marshallmarrafuneralhome.com. Guests are asked to obey social distancing guidelines and personal protection guidelines in order to be in compliant with COVID-19 restrictions. Livestream of Bishop Bass’ service will be available at https://www.facebook.com/BishopJRBASS or search for The Kimovation Channel on YouTube (https://bit.ly/3t8jTXH).
