John L. Durnin

John Luther Durnin was born in Cumberland County, PA on October 28, 1924 and died in Cumberland County at 95 years of age on November 26, 2019. He and wife Grace Witmer Durnin resided for sixty-eight years at Harmony Hall Dr., Middlesex Township and then three and a half years at the Stoneridge Independent Living apartments in Carlisle, PA. He was the son of the late John W. and Olive Paxton Durnin.

John attended South Middleton Township High schools and Carlisle Commercial College where he earned his diploma in Business Administration. He was a United States Army Veteran, serving as a Medic during World War II in the African, Europe and Pacific Theaters of Operation. John wrote and published two books of his experiences and one novel. He was an original thirteen-year school board member and past president of the Cumberland Valley School District board of directors. He retired as manager of accounting for a manufacturing division after thirty-seven years of service with AMP, Inc. in Harrisburg, PA. Memberships included Middlesex United Methodist Church, Middlesex Township School Board, Middlesex Township Zoning Board and Middlesex Gun Club.

John and Grace were married for 72 and a half years and had a son Steven Lee, deceased, and a daughter, Janis Elaine, Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, James C Durnin; a sister, Joyce Peffer and her husband John; step sister-in-law, Jean Wetzel Finkenbinder; step-father, George W. Finkenbinder; four step-brothers, Wayne, Paul, Ralph and George Finkenbinder; and three step-sisters, Alma, Martha and Betty (nee) Finkenbinder.

He is survived by wife Grace; daughter, Janis E. Durnin; grandson, Marine LCpl. John L. Durnin, II; daughter-in-law, Linda Durnin; sisters-in-law, Doris McAllister Durnin, Joann Witmer Eslinger, Betty Witmer; brother-in-law, Verle Witmer; step-sister, Mary Jane Kretzing; two step-sisters-in-law, Marcia and Dorthy Finkenbinder and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Pastor Rachel Wong will be in charge of the Memorial Service to be held at the Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the United Methodist Home for Children at 5120 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 or Homeland Hospice, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 270, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 2020 West Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013.

To sign the guestbook, please visit www.hoffmanfh.com.