John McCandless, 85

November 23, 2017

John McCandless of Lancaster, passed to eternal life on November 23, 2017.

John was born on October 29, 1932 to Beatrice Young McCandless and John McCandless in Wilmington, Delaware. John graduated from the University of Delaware in 1958 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. John was a proud U.S. Navy Veteran and served as an electrician aboard a Landing Craft Unit.

John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He married his childhood sweetheart, Thelma Garvey McCandless and they celebrated 63 years of marriage this year. He is also survived by their four children, son Stephen McCandless and wife Mary Ellen McCandless, daughter Diane Marinari, son James McCandless, and daughter Jean McCandless Freet and husband Brad Freet. John also has 9 grandchildren, Jennifer, Thomas, Christie, Daniel, Teagan, Colin, Julie, Patty and Lexi; and 6 great-grandchildren, Anthony, Michael, Elizabeth, Sarah Jean, Sophia and Dillon.

John worked as a quarry superintendent for 29 years for Bethlehem Steel and also worked for Wimpey Minerals. He retired in 1995. He had an avid interest in his Irish ancestry and history. He enjoyed sharing stories with his family and friends. He also enjoyed tennis, playing the guitar, and traveling with his family and friends. He was a member of the Lancaster AMVETS and attended mass regularly at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church where he sang in the choir.

A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 on December 1, 2017 from 10:30-11:30 AM followed by a Catholic Prayer Service at 11:30 AM. Burial with Military Honors will follow at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA at 2:00 PM.