John Phillip Soder Jr

John Phillip Soder Jr., of Friendship Maryland, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2024 at the age of 91.

He is survived by his loving wife Judy of 13 years; three children Judith Anne Emerson (Andrew), Jennifer Marie Gilmore (Jason) and John Phillip Soder III; five stepchildren Daryl Samuelson, Mark Johnson, Derek Johnson, Donald Roy and Michael Roy; seven grandchildren, Michael Emerson, Patrick Emerson, Kevin Emerson, Jacqueline Gilmore, Jackson Gilmore, Madison Soder and John (JP) Soder IV; as well as ten step-grandchildren and six step-great grandchildren. 

John was born in Olean, N.Y. on December 20,1932. He was the son of the late John and Harriet Soder. He attended Olean High School and St. Bonaventure University where he received a bachelor’s degree in history and a master's degree in Latin American history and politics. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and served as a Fire Direction Officer in the 73rd Artillery Regiment. 

After completing his tour of duty in the military, he received a scholarship from Georgetown University to undertake graduate work, earning his PhD degree in Latin American History and International Relations. Dr. Soder worked in the intelligence community in Washington as a research analyst, after which he entered the academic community as a faculty member at the College of Steubenville in Ohio.

In 1969 he joined the faculty of George Mason University where he taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. Dr. Soder was a Fulbright Scholar and received awards from the Organization of American States, the George Mason Foundation and the Argentine Government. He spent 1970-71 and 1984-85 in Santiago Chile doing research. In 1997, Dr. Soder retired from the University as an Emeritus Professor in the department of history. He returned to the classroom briefly in 2010 as an Adjunct Professor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 

 A service will be held in his honor on Monday November 18, 2024, at t St. James’ Church in Lothian (5757 Solomons Island Rd, Lothian, MD 20711). The family will receive friends from 10 am until the time of Funeral Service at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made to St. Jude’s's Children's Hospital.