John Richard Detgen

Mr. John Richard Detgen, 93, of 8 St Simon's Square, Greensboro, NC and Ocean Reef, Key Largo, FL, died on Sunday, March 4, 2007 at Wesley Long Hospital after a very brief illness. A graveside service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro.
John was born on January 9, 1914 in New York City to the late Mary Bannon and Richard Joseph Detgen and grew up in Utica, NY. He attended New York public schools and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
He served as an officer in the US Army during World War II as a Captain and received an honorable discharge as a Major. He commanded a unit of the 374th Field Artillery Battalion of the 100th Infantry Division and served as an aide to Major General W. A. Burris. He was awarded a Purple Heart due to an injury resulting from enemy action in Germany in 1945, and a Bronze Star Medal during the American Theater Campaign. He started his business career with National Cash Register in Buffalo, NY and continued with W.R. Grace Company in Findley, OH and Baltimore, MD. He relocated to Greensboro, NC in 1956 when he became president of Terminix Company and continued there until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church, the Greensboro Rotary Club, Greensboro Country Club, Ocean Reef Club and Card Sound Club in Key Largo, FL. He served as president of the Greensboro Country Club. John's loves included his family, music, gardening and especially golf.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Mary deRosset Burns Detgen of Fayetteville and also by his brother, Edward Joseph Detgen and his sister, Dorothy Detgen Bannigan.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne B. Detgen; five daughters, Mary (Derry) Detgen Blackwell and husband, W. Harden of Greensboro, Anne Detgen Ellis and husband, M H Hood of Edenton, Elisabeth (Tish) Detgen Murray and husband, J. Joseph of Snow Camp, NC, Jane Detgen Wood of Gibsonville, NC and Caroline Detgen Haley of Greensboro; 18 grandchildren, John Reade Detgen Blackwell and wife, Eliza, Harden Burns Blackwell, Holt Ellis Kolb and husband, Gordon, Hannah Garland Ellis, Britton deRosset Ellis, Marshall Hood Ellis, John Joseph Murray, Jr., Mary Murray Lubrano and husband, Aaron, William Patton Murray, Elisabeth Terrence Murray, Robert Bannon Murray, Charles deRosset Murray, Catherine Holt Murray, Mary Detgen Wardle, Grayson Kelley Wood, Catherine Taylor Haley, Patrick Detgen Haley and Mary deRosset Haley; three great-grandchildren, Walter John Blackwell, Alice Reade Blackwell and Taylor Burns Blackwell; and long time, devoted housekeeper, Bertha Keller and gardener, William Hurdle.
The Detgen family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening, March 5th at the home of Derry and Harden Blackwell, 11 Charleston Square.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Salvation Army, 1311 South Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27406.
Family is being served by Forbis & Dick N. Elm St. Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at www.forbisanddick.com