John was a 1966 graduate of Boiling Springs High School and attended Harrisburg Area Community College and Millersville State College. He worked for more than 25 years with Carlisle Tire and Wheel, where he was in charge of safety emergency planning. John was a member of Mt. Vernon Christian & Mission Alliance Church, Shippensburg. He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and woodworking.

He is survived by three sisters; Joanne N. Kell of Carlisle, Joyce K. (and her husband, J. Robert "Bob")Simpson of Waynesburg and Julie R. (and her husband, Mike)Sweat of Cornelia, GA, one niece, Rebecca Simpson and two nephews; Robert Simpson and Austin Sweat.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Rev. Reuben C. Coldsmith officiating. Burial will be in Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens, Carlisle. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until time of the services on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Singing in the Barn, 2778 Mont Alto Rd., Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to the American Diabetes Association, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 103, Harrisburg, PA 17110.