John W. Harshbarger, 80, of Butler Township, passed away peacefully with family by his side, Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Kettering Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 16, 1931, in Huber Heights, son of the late Paul and Viola Harshbarger. John was a member of Ginghamsburg Church and an active member of the Kiwanis Club.
John served our country in the U. S Army during the Korean War and gave selflessly to many charities. He made his career as a State Farm Insurance Agent in Vandalia for 30 years, retiring in 1996.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Marilyn J. Harshbarger, and son Lonnie Knapke.
John is survived by four daughters, Connie Zax of Dallas, Texas; Becky and husband, Bill Faber of Tiffin; Sandy and husband, Wes Young of Englewood; Tammy and husband, Norbert Mertzman of Dayton; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Knapke of Houston, Texas; one sister, Lillian and husband, Bob Brenner of Lewisburg; seven grandchildren, Michele, Amy, Nicole, Ashley, Chelsea, Emily and Jennifer; many great-grandchildren; very special companion, Betty Collinsworth; and numerous relatives and friends.
John will be most be remembered as a loving, generous and compassionate man by his family and friends. He always thought of others before himself.
His funeral will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 30, 2012, at Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Drive, Vandalia. Burial will follow at Poplar Hill Cemetery.
Friends may call from noon-2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
If so desired, contributions may be made to Dayton Heart and Cancer Research (Wellness Center) or SICSA.
