John Leonard Fahs

John Leonard "Jack" Fahs, Jr. passed away at Lake Harris Health Care Center, Leesburg, on September 3, 2018, after a long and gradual decline. Jack was born at his grandmother Wilson's home in Leesburg, Florida on November 9, 1927, an only child. His father, John Leonard Fahs, had come to Leesburg about 1917 from Pennsylvania and his mother, Mary Katherine Wilson, came to Leesburg from Alabama even earlier. Together they were graduated from Leesburg High School in 1921, and later were married in 1924. Jack lived in Leesburg on Herndon Street until he finished the sixth grade. At that time the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he was graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1945, attended Marion Institute and the University of Florida for a year where he pledged with Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and entered West Point Military Academy in the summer of 1946. After four years at West Point, graduating with the Class of `50, he started a military career as a platoon leader in the 3d Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. A few days after reporting for duty, his division was alerted to move to Korea. After a hectic week or so, the 3d Division left Fort Benning by troop train to Camp Stolman, California, and a short time later sailed on one of the "General" ships to Japan. After a short time in Japan they moved on to Korea, landing in Wonson in November 1950. Upon returning from Korea, Jack was stationed again at Fort Benning for about a year, then transferred to the Ordnance Corps. After school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, three years were spent in Indiana at Madison Proving Grounds. He later attended Purdue University where he received a MS in Engineering. After Purdue, he and Martha Jane "Marty" Jonah were married, beginning married life at Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. Their oldest son, John III was born at Springfield. A daughter, Catherine Anne "Cathy" was born two years later at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. In the fall of 1960 Jack was transferred to Pirmasens, Germany where he commanded a Special Weapons unit, and later in COMZ Headquarters in Orleans, France. He returned to the states in the spring of 1964 for a four year assignment with NASA in Alexandria, Virginia, working on the Apollo Applications Program. Their youngest son, Robert Frederick was born at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C. shortly after the return. A home was established in Springfield, Virginia where they stayed about 15 years. Retiring from the Army in 1970, Jack went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as an Industrial Engineer. Later, he joined the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention which was part of the Executive Offices of the President. Later this office was merged with the newly formed National Institute on Drug Abuse from which he retired for a second time as a civil servant. Jack & Marty were divorced in 1981 and she died in 1994. His second marriage was to Glorianne Edith Seymour in 1982, after knowing each other at work for almost ten years. They retired the following year, and became snowbirds, going back and forth from Potomac, Maryland, and later, Fairfax, Virginia to home in Leesburg, Florida from 1983 until 2010. In 1987 the Potomac residence was replaced by a home in Fairfax, Virginia which was called home during the summer and fall months. They became actual Florida residents in 1988. Adjusting well to full time retirement, they spent their time doing genealogy, playing bridge, traveling, visiting children and grandchildren, and trying to keep two homes in working order. John Leonard Fahs III, the oldest son, was graduated from the University of Virginia and completed his Masters program at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. They lived first in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he worked for American Cyanamid, later living in Cheshire, Connecticut. He and Deborah Bain, his wife, presented three grandsons, Eric Matthew, Nathan John, and Gregory Bain. Catherine Anne, the second child, was graduated from Gettysburg College in 1981, and took a job in Philadelphia with Pennsylvania Bell. In 1983, she married Edward Bartholomew Miller, another Gettysburg graduate, and they later moved to Fairfax, Virginia. Both Cathy and Ed continued their education, Cathy receiving an RN and Ed a degree in education. They adopted three children, Sarah Catherine, Maxim Edward, and Theresa Anne, the latter two children from Russia. Robert Frederick, youngest son, married Carla June Watson in Leesburg. They also have three sons, Tyler William, Brenden Frederick and Matthew David. Robert worked first as an assistant manager with Ames Department Stores, later going to Bell Atlantic NYNEX, which now is known as Verizon. When they were married in 1982, Jack acquired another daughter in the process, Gerianne Eleanore Keator. Geri was married to Roger "Barney" Harrell, who passed away young. She has two children, Christina Anne and John Ryan, and two grandchildren, Haylie Anne and Landon. Jack is a lifetime member of Leesburg Heritage Society, and was a member of Leesburg Duplicate Bridge Club. Memorials may be sent to Lone Oak Cemetery, Leesburg. Burial will be private.

John Leonard Fahs

November 9, 1927 - September 3, 2018