Obituary for John Joseph McBride John McBride, 46, of Orrstown, Pa. , died Friday, November 30, 2018, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with his beloved fiancé, Lynne Booth, at his side. John, the fifth of six children, was born in San Pedro, Calif.
, on March 1, 1972, to the late Mary Rose (Fleckenstein) McBride of Baltimore, Md. , and Francis L. McBride, currently of Clermont, Fla. Upon graduating from Chambersburg Area High School, John was employed by M.P. Moller Pipe Organ Company in Hagerstown, Md.
When the prolific business closed in 1992, John joined fellow employee Mark Cooley in building a pipe organ service company in Orrstown, Pa. Over the past 26 years, the business has repaired, refurbished and rebuilt magnificent church instruments throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Eastern Ohio. They also contributed their expertise to refurbish the highly regarded 1927 Moller Theatre Pipe Organ at the Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg and the privately owned instruments of organists Bob Eyer and Dick Kline.
John never met a stranger, and he was generous with his time and attention. His kind heart and mercurial spirt led him to make friends wherever he went. Whether playing video games with his nieces and nephews, exploring historical sites and curiosities, or amassing one of the most eclectic digital music libraries, John experienced life with fullness.
In 2012, he met the love of his life and his community of family and friends expanded internationally to England, where he is cherished and deeply loved by many. John is predeceased by his mother (1983), older brother James Michael Francis McBride (1989), Lynne’s mother, Mary (2016), and her brother, Chris (2018). He is survived by his fiancé, Lynne Booth, of Leeds Yorkshire, England; his friend, guardian and associate Mark Cooley of Orrstown, Pa.
; his siblings Michelle Melton (Dale) of Gastonia, N.C.; Mary McBride of Shippensburg, Pa. ; Tim McBride (Sharon Occhipinti) of Melbourne, Australia; and Tom McBride (Beth Ruckreigel) of Louisville, Ky. , and his father.
Also grieving John’s loss are Lynne’s daughter, Hannah, and granddaughter, Maisie; Mark’s niece, Marsha Cooley Walker, and nephew, Paul Cover; and John’s nieces and nephews, Miranda Melton, Loren Melton, David Riggleman, Ryan Michael Riggleman, Laurene Riggleman, Rebecca McBride, Sophia McBride, and triplets Jacob, Matthew and Hallie McBride. John’s family is grateful to Dr. Renee Westmoreland and the liver transplant team who fought for and cared for John’s health since 2005 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 7, at 4:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church (431 Philadelphia Ave, Chambersburg, PA 17201).
John’s loved ones will receive visitors one hour prior to the service in the Chapel. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Organ Fund.
The mailing address is Trinity Lutheran Church, 28 Commerce Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. The Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg, has been entrusted with his funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.
fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.
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