John Franklin Slonaker, 90, departed this life on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Born on Jan. 11, 1933, he was the only child of the late John Aaron and Marian Franklin Slonaker. John spent his early years in Houston, Pa. before the family moved to Spokane, Wash. during World War II when his father was relocated to support the war effort. The family returned to the Pittsburgh area near the end of the war and John graduated from Peters Township High School in 1951. John received his degree in physics from Washington & Jefferson College in 1955, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Following graduation, John accepted a job at Findlay Refractories Company in Washington, Pa., where he met his future wife, Daisy Shaner. He and Daisy were wed on April 14, 1956, and their three children were born in Washington, Pa. In 1971, John accepted a position as an engineering scientist at the Coal Research Bureau at West Virginia University and the family moved to Morgantown. He retired from WVU in 1997.
John was a member of First Christian Church in Morgantown for many years before moving to Virginia Beach, Va. in 2015 following the death of his wife. He enjoyed his community and friends at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, where he lived independently until the last few weeks of his life.
Survivors include his sons Daniel, of West Virginia, John (Kay), of Bowie, Md., and his daughter Mary of Virginia Beach, Va. Also surviving are grandchildren, Jes (Laura) Slonaker, Lena (Joseph) Weiler, Anna (Brett) Donaghue, Michael (Ayla) Slonaker and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his, Daisy, in addition to his parents.
John was conscientious and loyal with an analytical and practical nature. He enjoyed the outdoors at a summer home at Camp Buckey, Pa. when the kids were young and later at Big Bear Lake Camplands with Daisy. He celebrated his recent 90th birthday with visits from family over the holidays.
Services are being provided by McCulla Funeral Home, of Westover. Visitation is at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, immediately followed by the funeral service at 3 p.m. Burial will be at West Alexander Cemetery in West Alexander, Pa., at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.
Condolences:
www.McCulla.com
