John Sherard Wharton

John "Jack" Sherard Wharton

John "Jack" Sherard Wharton, 88, died Monday, December 14, 2009, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, son of James Leslie Wharton and Lilla Lee Sherard Wharton.

He was a 1938 graduate of Goldsboro High School. In 1942, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. degree in Commerce.

He joined the Navy as part of the V-7 program and was sent to Notre Dame University in South Bend for orientation, then on to Midshipman's school at Northwestern University in Chicago. There he met June Young and married her on December 30, 1943, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

During World War II, he served as the first Officer of the Deck of LST 137 which transported British troops to France on D-Day. He spent several more years in the Navy in Japan and the Philippines before returning to this area to work with Gulf Oil. Later he was the manager for Cozart Packing Company. He also worked with Toledo Scales in eastern North Carolina.

Jack gave of himself to his community and his country in many ways throughout the years. He was president of the PTA at three different schools and active with many organizations including Kiwanis Club, Golden K, where he served as president, the local Boy Scouts, community theatre on all levels, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and the American Field Service.

Jack volunteered in the soup kitchen and delivered Meals on Wheels. He sang with many local groups including barbershop quartets, St. Stephen's choir and the Third Century.

After serving in the United States Navy, he spent almost 30 years in the United States Naval Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. He served as secretary-treasurer of the local Retired Officers Association for three years and then became president of the Eastern Carolina chapter of the Retired Officers Association.

For the first half of his life, he belonged to St. Paul's Methodist Church. In the early 1960s, he joined his family at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church where he remained a member the rest of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Annie Laurie C. Wharton; daughters, Lesley W. Marcello and her husband, Robert "Bobby" J. Marcello, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, Priscilla L. Wharton of Miami, Florida, Ann W. Shull and her husband, Richard "Dick" D. Shull, of Landisburg, Pennsylvania; son, John Sherard Wharton Jr. and his wife, Amy W. Wharton, of Charlottesville, Virginia; stepson, William Robert "Bobby" Crawford of St. Petersburg, Florida; stepdaughter, Laurie C. Harding and her husband, Dr. Robert "Bob" G. Harding, of Goldsboro, North Carolina; grandchildren, Elizabeth M. Fabrega and her husband, Dr. Gustavo "Gus" A. Fabrega, of Little Rock, Arkansas; United States Army CPT Margaret J. Marcello, stationed in northern Iraq, and John "Joey" J. Wharton and Wendy L. Wharton, both of Charlottesville; stepgranddaughter, Emily P. Southerland of Raleigh, North Carolina; and sister-in-law, Vivian M. Wharton and niece, Betsy F. Wharton, both of Goldsboro, North Carolina.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, June Y. Wharton; and brother, James "Jim" Leslie Wharton Jr.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2009, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the parish hall.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.