John A. Gunther

John A. Gunther

John Anton Gunther, 78, of Colonial Beach passed away Sept. 1, 2005, at Carriage Hill Nursing Home in Fredericksburg. Born March 19, 1927, in Orange, N.J., John was the only child of Anton Gunther and Gertrude McKay Gunther Holm. Raised in East Rutherford, N.J., he graduated from East Orange High School. He immediately entered the U.S. Navy during World War II and rose to the rank of pharmacist mate 3rd class. He was assigned to the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) battleship during 1946 and 1947. After World War II, President Hoover, in a gesture of goodwill, selected the BB-64 to carry a hand-picked group of midshipman graduates from the Annapolis academy to visit the king and queen of Norway. John particularly like to muse about how nervous the midshipmen were on their maiden voyage to the North Atlantic, especially how the BB-64 had to dodge huge water mines on the high seas, planted by the German fleet. John was one of the many volunteer "spotters" at the rail of his beloved battleship, pointing out the mines by shouting their coordinates for the bridge. John, his Navy buddies and the young midshipmen arrived safely with quite a story to tell their families and, later in their lives, their grandchildren.

After the war, John entered Rutgers University for two years, and he completed his bachelor's degree in political science at American University in Washington, D.C. He began his government service in D.C. as a meter coin collector. After two years, John was recruited by the IRS as a revenue officer, rising to the rank of chief, Field Branch II, responsible for over 150 employees covering the entire state of Maryland for tax issues, as well as representatives of the District. John was a champion at closing large-dollar trust-fund delinquent cases and restoring the money to taxpayers' accounts. Overall, John had a distinguished government career of over 38 years.

John was a Mason for 49 years with Federal Lodge No. 1 in Washington. He was also a member of the York Rite of Camp Springs, Md., and ACCA Temple of Richmond. In 1998-99, John served as president of the Heritage Shrine Club of Colonial Beach/King George.

His first marriage, to Frances Webster Gunther, lasted 30 years; she preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Beverly Farhood Gunther of Colonial Beach; three children from his first marriage, including a son, John Anton Gunther Jr. and his wife, Deanna Gunther, of Owings, Md., and two daughters, Toni Gunther Bradshaw and her husband, Lee Bradshaw, of Brandywine, Md., and Francine Susan Davis and her husband, Eric Davis, of Alexandria; and from his second marriage, a stepdaughter, Kelly Blair Snyder and her husband, Fred Snyder, of Pawley's Island, S.C..

Also surviving are two granddaughters, Cindy Curran of Waldorf, Md., and Niki Bradshaw of Brandywine, Md., and two grandsons, Randy and Jeffrey Davis of Alexandria.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. with memorial services conducted by the Masonic Order at 7:30 p.m. and At 7:45 p.m. American Legion Post 148 will conduct its service at Nash & Slaw Funeral Home, King George, on U.S. 301. A funeral will be held Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. at Colonial Beach United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Maddox officiating. Interment will be held in Historyland Memorial Park in King George.

After the services, the family would like to invite friends and neighbors to attend a repast at the American Legion Hall on Colonial Avenue in Colonial Beach.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in John's name to Children's Hospital, Attn: Mr. Larry Cameron, President, Heritage Shrine Club, 8237 Hickory Drive, King George, Va. 22485.