Obituary of John H. Householder

Lt. Colonel John Henry Householder, 95, passed unexpectedly from this realm on Thanksgiving morning ,Thursday, November 22, 2012 . He was born in New Brighton, PA in the family farmhouse on April 9th, 1917, the eldest son of Amos and Ester Householder. John attributes growing up on the farm with three important aspects of his life: his work ethic, love of Country, and his life-long connection to his God. Much of his young social life and his extended family connections centered around Burry's Church on Route 68 , where he will be buried with full military honors next to his wife, mother, father, and brothers. As a young adult, after his graduation from New Brighton High School, he struck out on his own in 1934 with a scholarship to attend Pittsburgh Academy School of Business. In 1935 he took his first job at Pittsburgh Frick and Lindsay Industrial Supply before being recruited to Jones and Laughlin for oil field production equipment in Bradford PA. He attended the First Presbyterian Church there and continued his studies. In 1940, after saving $1000, he went to Penn State Dubois to begin studies as an Engineer. When the war began in 1941, he went back to Bradford, accompanied by a close friend from Penn State Dubois, as a second shift-supervisor, to support the war effort. He got a scholarship to attend Penn State main campus in 1942, but he left his studies to enlist in May. While in Mission TX, he met his wife, Carolyn, before being selected to attend OCS in Miami Beach Florida. As an Army Air Force officer, he was assigned to the European, Mediterranean, and North African Campaigns during World War II. He was posted in Morocco, Algiers, Corsica, and Foggia. He ended the war as the Quartermaster Supply Officer for HQs AAF Service Command in Naples. He received the WWII Victory Medal, Two Battle Stars, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He joined the AF Reserves, and continued to serve in the newly created US Air Force for many years. Following the war, he returned to Mission TX on New Year's Eve 1945, to propose to Carolyn, who had written him all during the war. They were married on January 26, 1946. With the GI Bill, he returned to Penn State, and earned two Masters Degrees in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering. He graduated with honors and was a member of Tau Beta Phi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Tau. His first position was once again in Bradford with Dresser Manufacturing Industries. He was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Bradford. He took a position with Proto Tool in 1952, and moved his family to Jamestown in August of that year. He was Quality Control manager and Industrial Engineer at Proto Tool until he retired in 1981. As a USAF Reserve Officer, he was called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He continued to be promoted as a Reserve Officer, attending War College, and yearly postings. He was one of 17 AF Reserve Officers selected to tour NATO HQs USAF on the 4th anniversary of the Berlin Wall. After his son was given an appointment to the AF Academy in 1970, he was an AF Academy Liaison Officer, and continued in that role for many years. He retired from the AF Reserve in 1981. He continued to serve the AF in the AF Association Chautauqua Chapter as a charter member, treasurer, and president right up until his 95th birthday. During his leadership, the Chautauqua Chapter won over 20 state and national awards. Just last month, John was presented with the 2012 Air Force Association Medal of Merit from the National Organization and a Special Recognition Award from the AFA State of New York, for his faithful years of service. Recent physical limitations never dissuaded John from an active role with his family, friends, and associations. He turned his room at Heritage Green into his HQs, directing his many duties and sage advice from that new location. In his last moments, he personally thanked his faithful caregivers from Heritage, letting them, and us, know he was ready for his next adventure. John was predeceased by his wife, Carolyn Stephens Householder in 1999, and earlier this year by his youngest daughter, Jo Carol Householder Madden and a brother, Kenneth Housholder. He remains alive in the hearts of his siblings, Alice Wilson and Richard Housholder, his only son, John Stephens Householder of Fort Worth, TX and his eldest daughter, Nancy Ann Householder Dawson of Lakewood, NY. He will always be remembered by his 7 grandchildren and his 5 great-grandchildren and by the many people whose lives he touched. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday November 27, 2012 in the First Presbyterian Church, 509 Prendergast Ave Jamestown. The Rev. Donald E. Ray will officiate. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday November 26 in the Lind Funeral Home. John gave generously to many national and local organizations and he suggests you use your time and talents to do the same.