Jack B. Metzger D.D.S.

On Friday, December 6, 2013, Dr. Jack B. Metzger died at Lancaster General Hospital after a brief illness.  Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late T. Warren and L. Mae Broome Metzger.  His father served as mayor of Lancaster City from 1930-1934.

Dr. Metzger attended the Lancaster City Schools and graduated from J. P. McCaskey High School in 1943.  After attending Franklin and Marshall College, he graduated from Temple University Dental School in 1951.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1944 and served in the South Pacific during WWII.

Dr. Metzger began his dental practice in August of 1951,   at 450 W. Chestnut St., and served his patients there until 1993.   Concurrent with his private practice, and thereafter, he served as a resident dentist at the Conestoga View Retirement Facility.  His final year of practice at Conestoga View was in 2007.  During his practice, he was an active member of the staff of the former Saint Joseph’s Hospital.  He also served as president of the Lancaster Dental Society and as the Dentist of the Lancaster County Prison.

Dr. Metzger served the city of Lancaster as a member of city council for four terms, three of those as president.

Dr. Metzger was a member of the Lancaster Chapter of the PIAA Football Officials from 1967 through 1983, having served as president of the organization.  In addition, he served as a member of the PIAA Basketball from 1968 through 1979.  Following his service to the Basketball Chapter of Lancaster, Dr. Metzger served as the assigner of officials for the Lancaster-Lebanon Basketball League for the period from 1984 through 1991.

Dr. Metzger was a lifetime member of Kiwanis International, having served in various official capacities including President of the Lancaster Kiwanis Club in 1965.  He was a member of the Lancaster Pirates and the Tucquan Club serving as president of the organization.  He was a lifetime member of the Hamilton Club of Lancaster and of the Lancaster Country Club.  He was also a member of Saint Peters U.C.C.

Dr.  Metzger was an avid sportsman, fishing the local rivers and streams of PA and the lakes of Maine during vacations at Aimhi Lodge on the Little Lake Sebago.  He was a competitive golfer, finishing in the top echelon of golfers in the Lancaster City County Golf Tournament on several occasions.  He won the 60+ and 70+ divisions of the Hamilton Club Squash Championships and also won the Wise Guys Holiday Squash Tournament at the Hamilton Club.  He coached both his sons in the Elks Midget Football Program on autumn evenings during the 1960s.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia L. Eckenrode Metzger, with whom he would have celebrated his 65

th

wedding anniversary on January 31, 2014, by a daughter, Virginia L. Babic, wife of Michael W. Babic, of Lancaster, two sons, John W., husband of Mary Aierstuck of Lancaster, Ronald S., husband of Alice Rittenhouse, Willow Street, along with eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Lancaster General Hospital for their attentiveness and thoughtful care during Dr. Metzger’s brief stay.

A service will be celebrated at Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, 141 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.  Viewings will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 10th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday December 11th from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service.  Interment will be in Woodward Hill  Cemetery.

Those wishing to honor the memory of Dr. Metzger are asked to send a memorial contribution to ORCA of Lancaster, 610 N. Lime St., Lancaster, PA, 17602.