E. John Mohler, 79

February 05, 2023

Elias ‘John’ Mohler, 79, of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 5, 2023 after a recent short battle with a second primary cancer.

John was born on August 2, 1943 to Pauline and Howard Mohler in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He attended Canon-McMillan High School, graduating in 1961. John earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 1975 from Washington & Jefferson College and attended graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh and George Washington University.

A decorated war veteran, John served multiple tours in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army and the Special Forces Rangers. His awards for valor include Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

After completing his military service and undergraduate degree, John began a career in national defense and homeland security that spanned more than four decades. During that period, he worked at numerous companies to include Boeing, German aerospace manufacturer Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm, General Electric Aerospace, PAR Technology Group, and Lockheed Martin to name few. Additionally, he worked as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill and as an independent consultant to the Department of Defense.

John had many hobbies including golf and skiing, and physical fitness. He loved history – especially Civil War history. He was a fan of almost any war movie, but his favorites were Gettysburg, Platoon, and Saving Private Ryan. Later in life, he became a student of the financial markets and spent hours each morning tracking and monitoring the daily market activity.

Anyone who knew John was touched by his kindness and humor. He was a humble man who was much more interested in giving a compliment than receiving one and had a knack for brightening the day of anyone he met. John was a great communicator, who constantly reached out to friends and family to stay in touch.

John is preceded in death by his mother Pauline, father Howard, and older brother Theodore. He is survived by his loving wife, Melynda, two sons, Jonathan and Jason, younger sister, Alice, three younger brothers, Gregg, Ric, and Ken, five grandchildren, and an abundance of friends. We will all miss him more than words can express.

There will be a Celebration of Life held in his honor at Willow Valley Communities located in Willow Street, Pennsylvania date TBD (March/April 2023). John’s interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery (within the year). Contributions in memory of John can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.