John Louis McLaughlin

As a young man he fought for our freedom while serving in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for charging an enemy position Korea. Surviving such an ordeal puts life in perspective. It was tough to ever find something that could upset him. Prior to serving our country, he earned a degree in accounting from Drexel Institute of Technology (predecessor of today’s Drexel University) while enrolled in the school’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. Through mutual friends, he met Eleanor Grace Hollowell. They were married 10 days before he shipped-off to Korea. Their 64 year union was blessed by two sons, John W. (Janice) and Robert T., and later by two grandsons, Tom and Jim.

John’s career at Boeing Company’s Vertol Division, from which he retired as the director of finance, brought him more than a paycheck. He made lifelong friendships forged during commutes to work and on the golf course. Retirement found him being able to travel a bit. He and Grace enjoyed the vacation of a lifetime while touring Ireland and England, with travels on the Q.E. II passenger liner and the Concorde supersonic transport acting as bookends. He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Riverside, NJ and looked forward to helping out at the annual carnival. John enjoyed staying up late with a detective novel in hand and enjoyed a little photography. From the days of his youth to years spent with his grandkids, summertime was meant for trips to Wildwood.

He and Grace eventually moved into the Riverview Estates (The Baptist Home of South Jersey) in Riverton, NJ where he shared his enthusiasm for pinochle with others and served as treasurer of the Residents Council.

Come celebrate 87 great years on Monday, 9 – 10 A.M. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, St. Peter’s Church, Riverside. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, Cinnaminson.

Sweeney Funeral Home,

Riverside