John E. Champe

1922 - 2018

JOHN E CHAMPE 1922 - 2018
Lebanon - On August 15 2018, John E. Champe has been peacefully called home to God. He was the son of the late Rev. Howard and Eleanor Pendleton Lord Champe, born on August 4, 1922. He resided in Gilead, CT with his parents until they accepted a missionary calling to Mexico when he was one year old. The Great Depression brought an end to the mission work 7 years later. Now the family with two new daughters (Ruth and Grace), made the trek north from Mazatlon back across the U.S. to Hebron, CT. In 1933 the family moved to Lebanon, CT where his father Rev. Howard C. Champe took a Pastorship of the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. John graduated from Lyman Memorial High School in 1940, as class President and Valedictorian. As a result he was offered a scholarship to Hiram College in Hiram, OH.
In September of 1942 John enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he began training to become a Radio Operator. Consequently, John was assigned to O.C.S for further training in radio operation and code breaking for undercover service in France. In 1946 he married his high school sweetheart, Janice Gallup Geer, then returning to college at Yale University to complete his studies. Upon graduation he joined the Air Force Reserve and at the start of the Korean War he was called to service because of his communications specialty, and was stationed in Germany. He returned to Connecticut where he was employed by the Conn. General Life Insurance Company and also continued with the Air Force Reserve completing 20 years of service retiring with the rank of Major. After 50 years of marriage his beloved wife Janice passed away.
He later married Helen Trousdale Mahoney, they made their home in his newly built house in Lebanon. He and Helen remained active for many years crossing the U.S. twice by RV, and to Mexico, The Panama Canal, and Hawaii. John and Helen recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
John is survived by his second wife Helen Mahoney Champe, daughter Suzanne Dobrowolsky, Grandson Joseph Dobrowolsky and his wife Jessica, and 4 Great Grandchildren Nessa, Jonathan, Natalie, and Emma, and granddaughter Jennifer Dobrowolsky, two sisters Grace and Rev. Don Inglis of Pleasant Hill, TN and Ruth Milanick of PA and FL. He is also survived by Helen's six children; Jim and Ruth Mahoney, Judy and Rick Snayd, Margaret and Pat Mahoney, Rob and Collete Mahoney, Tom and Barbara Mahoney, and Ellen Mahoney, as well as 23 stepgrandchildren and 19 step greatgrandchildren. He is predeceased by his first wife Janice Geer, and son Jeremy, brother-in-law David and Jan Geer, brother-in-law Al Milanick and Son-in-law Donald Dobrowolsky.
A service to honor John's long and accomplished life will be held Saturday September 8, 2018 at 11am at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon on Exeter Road in Lebanon, CT. Donations in John's name may be made to his beloved church.