John Strathen entered into eternal rest on March 14 with his family at his side.
He was born in Arnold PA on May 21, 1924, the son of Richard Jennings Strathen and Wilma Lee Clapp.
John graduated from Arnold High School, received his BA in Education at Washington & Jefferson College. He received his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.
He was employed by the American Window Glass Company in Pittsburgh prior to working as Plant Manager at various Harbison-Walker Refractories plants in Clearfield and Grantsville, MD. At the close of Harbison-Walker in Clearfield he was the plant manager of Glen-Gery Corporation in Clearfield and Brazil, Indiana.
He was a Veteran of World War II having served as an aviation radioman in the US Navy.
John was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Clearfield, a 50 year member of Clearfield Lodge 314 F & AM, a lifetime member of BPOE Elks Lodge 540 and a member of the American Legion. He was a devoted family man, an avid reader and enjoyed woodworking, boating and the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth Paul Strathen, of New Kensington; daughters Judy Kaufman and her husband Jerry of Clearfield and Nancy Rowden and her life-love E. Daniel Remy of Lake Havasu City, AZ and sister Dorothy Milisits of Pilisgrove NJ. Also surviving are the following grandchildren: Elizabeth Rowden of Jacksonville, FL, Brian Kaufman and his companion Jill Piacente of Venice CA, Eric Kaufman of Santa Monica CA, Michael Strathen of Woodland and Jennifer Strathen Stiglitz and her husband Nick of Cranberry Township, PA.
Also surviving are two great-grandchildren Jayden and Luke Strathen.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard J. Strathen of Greensboro, NC and a son, James P. Strathen.
A memorial service will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Robert L. Rupp officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park, Hyde.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Clearfield American Legion and Clearfield VFW Posts’ Honor Guard.
Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield on Thursday from2-4 & 6-8 p.m.
On Thursday at the funeral home, the Masonic memorial service will be said at 5:45 p.m. followed by the Elks memorial service at 6:00 p.m.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 121 S. 2nd Street, Clearfield or to the Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library, 1 S. Front Street, Clearfield.
To sign the online guestbook go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.
