Ashtabula – John George Gbur, 85, of Ashtabula, formerly of Struthers, died Tuesday morning, October 9, 2018 at Country Club Retirement Center in Ashtabula. Mr. Gbur was born March 27, 1933 in Lowellville, a son of Matthew and Veronica Morjac Gbur. Raised on Kennedy Road in Lowellville, John attended both Lowellville and Poland schools.
A proud United States Navy veteran, John, along with his twin brother Charles, enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He served as chief engineer on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier during the Korean Conflict. After being honorably discharged, John returned to the area and married his sweetheart, the former Barbara Ferguson on September 10, 1955 and they made their home in Struthers.
John worked as a crane operator for Youngstown Sheet & Tube, retiring in 1984 after 30 years of service. John loved boating and fishing and owned his first boat in 1969. After retirement he made his home in Ashtabula to be near the water.
A hard working man all of his life, John strongly believed in staying busy so he worked at the Ashtabula Marina and received his license as a charter captain. John enjoyed taking people on charter fishing trips and pleasure cruises with his first mate, his grandson at his side. He also assisted grieving families by providing a burial at sea service.
John was an expert handyman and an accomplished woodworker and his family will cherish his many woodcrafts gifts. In 20? ?
, at the age of 82, John was one of the first recipients to be honored with the Honorary High School Diploma from Struthers High School. A life full lived, John’s happiest times were fishing on Lake Erie and surrounding himself with family. He was a member of the Struthers VFW Post #3538 as well as Ashtabula VFW Post #943 where he served as Commander.
He was also a member of the American Legion in Ashtabula. John’s wife, Barbara passed away in 2004. John leaves his second wife, Ida of Ashtabula; one son, John (Twila) Gbur of Smicskburg, PA; two daughters, Shirley (David) Sepesy of Struthers and Karen Ehlenbach of Poland; two brothers, Clem Gbur of Lake Milton and Paul Gbur of Lowellville; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty-two great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sarah Slovinsky; four sisters, Mary Seman, Dorothy Frye, Veronica Rusnak, and Marge Planey; and four brothers, Matthew, Martin, Charles, and George Gbur. A Prayer Service will be held Monday, 9:45 a.m. at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Our Savior Parish at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church with Fr. Martin Celuch officiating.
Friends will be received Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Ashtabula.
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