John Sinon Wilmarth

John Sinon Wilmarth

U.S. Air Force Veteran and Teacher -

John S. Wilmarth of Mechanicsburg, PA (70) died of an apparent heart attack while riding his recumbent bicycle on a beautiful sunny afternoon Tuesday, April 30, 2019. He had been in excellent health and was doing one of the things he enjoyed most.

He was the beloved father of Gregory, Devin, Emma and Colin, and the much loved brother of his twin, Frank of Dauphin, PA, and younger brother Arthur of Mashpee, MA.

John was born on September 13, 1948, in Olean, NY, the son of Arthur E. Wilmarth, Sr. and Helen Sinon Wilmarth, deceased.

He graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1966 and then served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a year in Vietnam stationed at the Phan Rang Air Base, as an avionics mechanic working on fighter jets. He subsequently graduated from California State University of Pennsylvania and was a highly talented and respected teacher of industrial arts in Binghamton, NY and then in Harrisburg.
John was an avid bicyclist and a skilled master of woodworking and home renovation, and most recently flintlock gunmaking. In addition, John also enjoyed motorcycling, kayaking and fly fishing on local trout streams with close friends.

He was an active member of the American Legion Post 340 in Duncannon. PA, where he participated in Legion Honor Guard activities. He was an enthusiastic 18th Century living history participant and volunteer with the Friends of Fort Halifax Park in Halifax, PA and also at Dills Tavern in Dillsburg.

He was previously married to Barbara Jo Walker of Dover, PA and Fiona Cormack of Harrisburg. He was a devoted and loving father and grandfather and a kind, gentle and generous brother and friend. In addition to his four children and two brothers, he is survived by his four grandchildren Logan, Lane, Olivia, and Darren, nephews Joshua Kwiatkowski of Dover and Austin of Colorado Springs, CO, niece Megan Wilmarth, and cousins Karen Lorey of Winter Springs, FL, Beverly Colton of Troy, PA and Bernadine Herlt of Dallas, TX.

A family wake is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at John’s new townhouse, 5080 Mendenhall Drive in Hampden Township. All of John’s friends and acquaintances are welcome to come join in a celebration of his life. For any further details please contact John’s twin brother Frank at 717-921-3883.