John B. Fishel

John B. Fishel, 97, passed away on Tuesday, November 22,

2011 at Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy.

He was a resident of Oak Leaf Manor North, Landisville.  Prior to that, he resided in Valleybrook

Estates, Lancaster.

Born in Hagerstown, MD on September 24, 1914, John was the

son of the late Oram and Mary Blume Fishel.

He was the husband of the late Janice S. Fishel who passed away in 1987.

After graduating from Hagerstown High School in 1932, John

attended Lehigh University, graduating in 1936 with a B.S. in Chemistry.  He received an M.S. in Chemistry from Ohio

State University in 1948 and completed additional post-graduate studies at MIT

and Carnegie-Mellon Universities.

John was employed as a research chemist at Neville Chemical

Company, Pittsburgh; Gulf Research and Development Company, Pittsburgh; and

Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH.

In 1956 he moved to Lancaster to accept a position with General Cigar

Research and Development and retired from there in 1980.

While a student at

Lehigh University, John enrolled in the Army ROTC program.  A retired colonel in the U.S. Army, he served

in the Chemical Corps during World War II.

John was known by many for his powerful bass voice.  His love of music throughout his lifetime

drew him to sing with the church choirs of Bethany Presbyterian Church, First

Presbyterian Church, Highland Presbyterian Church, Grandview United Methodist

Church and Lancaster Moravian Church.

He held memberships in the American Chemical Society, Sigma

Xi, Lehigh University Alumni Association, Ohio State University Alumni

Association, Retired Officers Association and the American Guild of

Organists.  For many years he served as

Chairman of Judges for the Lancaster County Science and Engineering Fair.

John is survived by a daughter Leslie, wife of Donald Rice

of Lancaster, and a son Gregory, husband of Kathy  Fishel of Cary, NC.  He is also survived by four grandchildren,

Meridith, wife of Jonathan Eckroat of Millersville, Melissa, wife of

Christopher Marschka of Lancaster, Brandon Fishel of Cary, NC and Austin Fishel

of Cary, NC; and three great-grandchildren, Maggie and Claire Eckroat of

Millersville, and Janice Marschka of Lancaster.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a

memorial service from Lancaster Moravian Church, 1460 Eden Rd., Lancaster, PA, 17601

on Saturday, November 26

th

at 11:00 A.M.  Friends may call at the church on Saturday

from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service.

Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent

to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster,

PA  17604, or Lancaster Moravian Church

at the address above.