John E. Lyon, 79, a lifelong resident of Stanton Hill Road Russell PA, passed away peacefully, Friday August 18th at the John & Orpha Blair Hospice House in Warren Pa. after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer.
Born January 6, 1944, in Jamestown NY, he was the son of the late William Lyon & Catherine (Myers) Lyon- Bloss.
John was a 1962 graduate of Eisenhower High School and went on to complete education at the Pennsylvania School of Banking at Bucknell University and the American Institute of Banking. John entered the Army on May 4, 1965, and served in the Vietnam Conflict until his discharge on April 25, 1967, where he received the award for Exceptional Meritorious Service while serving in the 159th Transportation Battalion in Qui Nhon, Republic of Vietnam.
John had lifelong employment in the banking industry starting out at the Pennsylvania Bank and Trust Co in Sugar Grove Pa which most notably remember as PennBank and finished his career under the National City Bank Name after 36 years of service, 33 years of those in Sugar Grove PA.
John’s community involvement was extensive and included Salvation Army unit treasurer, Sugar Grove Business Group Chair, director of Warren County School Board, member of Warren County Chamber of Commerce, Member Warren County Famers Association and Pa Farm Bureau, 4-H Leader and member of Warren County 4-H Development Council, Township Auditor, Member of St. Joes Church and Choir, treasurer of Kinzua Valley CB Rangers Club, Warren County Fair director and treasurer for 20 years, Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs director, past treasurer of the Warren County Fair Livestock Sale Committee where he continued to serve. John received the Warren County 4-H roll of distinction award in 1981 and was named the PA Fair person of the year in 2001 at the annual PA Fair Convention in Hershey PA.
John was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His passions included anything fair and farming, loved spending time traveling the country with his wife in the motor home and successfully traveled to every state minus Hawaii.
Surviving in addition to his wife Ruth Ann G. (Bratt) Lyon, of 54 years whom he married on November 16, 1968 at Sacred Heart in Lakewood are Three daughters Chris Jenkins of Youngsville PA, Kimberly (Kim) Spicer of Russell PA, Pamela (Dale) McMillen of Sugar Grove PA and one son John (Dawn) Lyon of Cortland NY, 9 grandchildren Cierra Greenawalt, Skyla Ohl(fiancé Brandon Huling), Shania (Matt) Dunderdale, Haley Spicer, Cody McMillen(fiancé Kristen Kiedaisch), Lindsey McMillen (fiancé Jordan Butler), Caleb McMillen, Taron Lyon, and Kiara Lyon, and one great grand-son Grayson Huling, and great grand-daughter Dunderdale on the way. Also surviving are one brother William (Nancy) Lyon Warren PA and a sister Betty (Doug Irvine) Yuma, AZ., sister-in-law Pat Ellison Latrobe PA, as well as his nieces and nephews.
John was proceeded in death by his parents William Lyon & Catherine (Myers) Lyon-Bloss, and brother-in-law John Ellison.
Family and friends will be received on Wednesday August 23, 2023, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Donald E Lewis Funeral Home Inc., 304 East St., Warren. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday August 24 at 11:00 am in Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 11 Russell St., Warren, with the Rev. Stephen Schreiber, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St Joseph Cemetery in Warren, PA. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Warren County, 1 Main Ave. Warren, PA; The Russell Volunteer Fire Dept, 111 Perrigo Ln, Russell, PA; or Veteran’s of Warren County.