In Memory

John Wharton

 

In Memory

JOHN WHARTON

 
Obituary of John Stanley Wharton
 
OBITUARY

John Stanley Wharton

January 15, 1942November 27, 2022

John S. Wharton, 80 years old of Palm Harbor, Florida passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2022. John was born on January 15, 1942, in East Orange, New Jersey to James Campbell Wharton and Lois Haythorn Wharton. He was the second oldest of four children.

He attended Montclair High School where he played football and went on to the University of Maryland where he earned his bachelor’s degree. After college John started his career in industrial manufacturing, which afforded him the opportunity to travel around the world.

John was drafted into the US Army in 1966 and served in Korea. After returning home to New Jersey in 1968, he worked at the Charms Company, where he met his wife, Cheryl Ann Holme. John was the proud parent of John Stanley Wharton, Jr and Amy Wharton.

John had a love of racing cars, particularly Corvettes which always had race number 1241. He was able to fully pursue his other passion, golf, after he retired from Domino Sugar. His second “career” was the starter on a golf course in Toms River, NJ. He endured many a cold early morning but loved the sport and the camaraderie.

John lived much of his adult life in Manasquan, New Jersey but moved to Florida in 2012 to fully retire for the second time and enjoy golf from the perspective of the player. He spent his time playing at Innisbrook and Countryside Country Clubs, as well as attending the numerous events of his great-niece and great-nephews, who he loved dearly. Never a concert, performance, birthday, or holiday was complete without Uncle John watching intently and joking consistently. He could transform a room like no other.

John is survived by his son John S. Wharton, Jr and daughter Amy Wharton as well as sister Janet, brother Jim and grandson John Goffinett, Jr.

John’s Celebration of Life will be held at 11AM on Saturday, December 3rd at the home of his niece in Tampa, Florida. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Wounded Warriors Family Support.

 

 

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John Wharton - A Remembrance

by David Appleton

 

It was 1955 or so when I first met John Wharton on the grassy field of Edgemont Park near Liz MacKenzie’s, Imogene Kennedy’s and Buddy Ducker’s houses near Edgemont School  just to the west of the pavilion and pond where we fished for carp, fed bits of bread to ducks and swans, and sailed model boats in regattas on that pond during the summer park camp program, and donned our ice skates each winter for sometimes romantic evening forays onto the ice on the pond where during the day played “Ice-lot Hockey,” … Edgemont, the center of the universe to many of us young folk growing up in lower Montclair in those halcyon days of the 40s and 50s.

 

John lived in Upper Montclair and went to Mount Hebron JHS; I lived near the High School on Park St. (lower Montclair) and attended George Inness JHS (8th grade at this time).  So our paths never crossed until that crisp fall day in 1955.

 

Somehow Tony Massi of George Inness connected with folks in Mount Hebron to arrange a football game twixt the two schools on the fields of Edgemont Park.  My understanding of the arrangement was vague at best, but the meeting and game happened and I was there.

 

Montclair High School was a football powerhouse at that time under the leadership of Coach Clary Anderson along with Butch Fortunato and others State Championships abounded.  So us kids coming up toward MHS sought to begin honing our skills to join the MHS Team.   

 

A bunch of us from GI and MH schools showed up on the field that day with a half-vast skills and a motley collection of football pads, helmets and gear. The sartorial star of the show was Bob Mills, who wore a fully outfitted kelly green uniform with appropriate pads and helmet, head to toe a football fashion plate.  It was on that day (wish I could remember the exact date) that Bob struck a pose and became “Otto” Mills…. Named after the legendary Otto Graham.

 

The game began and my memory fogged by years serves me little in the way of details…. But I do distinctly remember connecting with John Wharton who played center for Mount Hebron, as I presented as defensive over center guard for Geo Inness.   With each play I SCREAMED VIOLENTLY and jumped over John as he centered the ball to I forget who playing quarterback….. that’s about all I can remember about our first meeting…. Other than it was fun.

 

There were (?) or may have been more such games I fail to recall.   But later, in MHS, John and I became fast friends, hanging out together after school, drivin’ around town and beyond with whoever had a license and a car, learning to play poker and finally on the MHS Football Team.

 

On that MHS Football Team we played many positions, but mostly served as bench warmers. With John, Otto Mills, Henry Stake and myself we called ourselves “The Four Horsemen.” We sat on the end of the bench making jokes; we seldom took the field and served little to advance the MHS cause when we did.  But we did enjoy the game and watching  Tony Massi  & Co. prevail often.

 

I last saw John at one of our MHS 60 reunions a few years ago.  We were both aged and somewhat grumpy, but thoroughly enjoyed seeing one another again.  I last communicated with John on Facebook recently where we differed on some issues but where I charged him to “Remember the Four Horsemen!”

 

John was a good friend about whom I have many more cherished memories from those days.

https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/palm-harbor-fl/john-wharton-11038117



 
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01/22/23 11:46 AM #1    

Mark Streuli

a good memory about John that I will always have.   We were  at Mt Hebron JHS   and were betting on the world series.  with a 25 cent allowance the bets wern't high but they were a lot of money for us.  I must have bet at least 50 cents on the dodgers with John and a few others. I was nervous for a number of reasons.  Low and behold, the dodgers won  series against the yankees.  It was 1954.    within minutes after the victory, John shows up and pays me my money.  no asking by me.  I was so impressed by that actionn and I am sure it was a reflection of his character.  thanks John.  I'll never forget that.


01/23/23 05:07 PM #2    

Rick Boschen

AFTER JOHN MOVED TO FLORIDA.   WE SHARED MANY POSITIVE EVENTS VIA E-MAILS.

JOHN WILL BE MISSED BY MANY.   A GENTLEMAN ON DAYS THAT END IN "Y".

RB FLORIDA RESIDENT SINCE 1990.


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