John Carl Empie, Jr.

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Apr 17 1935
Oct 29 2018
83 Years
Cochranville, PA

John Carl Empie, Jr., of Cochranville, PA went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, October 29, 2018 surrounded by his family at home.  He was the loving and devoted husband of Lorraine Maule Empie, with whom he celebrated 60 years of marriage in August. 
Born at home in 1935, in Carney’s Point, NJ. John was the firstborn son of John Carl Empie, and Kathleen Thomas Empie.  The family moved to Pennsylvania in 1944 to a farm in Chadds Ford.  He attended Chadds Ford Junior High School and then graduated from Kennett High School in 1953.  After graduation, John served in the United States Navy from February 1954 to December 1957, last serving on the APD USS Bassett prior to it being decommissioned.  After his marriage to Lorraine, they eventually settled in Cochranville where they have lived since 1963.  John was a Secondary Math Educator, with a Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling and he taught Algebra and Geometry at Kennett High School for 33 years, retiring in 1996.  While there, he served as the Girls’ Varsity Softball Coach for seven years and was voted Coach of the Year the first year he coached and several years thereafter. 
John and Lorraine were both long time members of Manor Presbyterian Church (formerly Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church) where John served in such capacities as Trustee, Elder, Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Teacher, Choir Member and the Manager of the Softball Team. He is probably best remembered by many for his love of softball.  He started playing softball at 13 years of age, then became part of the church softball team at Faggs Manor when he joined the church and continued playing in the church softball league up into his 70’s, pitching his last full softball game at the age of 73. 
John’s true passion in life was his family.  There is not an event that his children and grandchildren were in that he could not be found in the audience or in the sidelines, cheering them on (and videotaping them).  His unconditional love and his constant encouragement will be greatly missed.  His letters to them all are treasured beyond measure. 
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his three children:   Laurene Empie Swarr (wife of David, Quarryville, PA), Jonna Empie King, (wife of Timothy, Cochranville, PA) and Kent Maule Empie (husband of Karen Meitzner Empie, Chester Springs, PA).  He is blessed to have nine adoring grandchildren and 4 great- grandchildren. He is also survived by two siblings, Carol Wright of Phoenixville and David Empie of State College.  In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth Empie Harshbarger, Patricia Empie Stoneback, and Lois Empie Self. 

A memorial service for John will take place on Friday evening, November 2nd,  at 7 pm at Manor Presbyterian Church, 505 Street Road, Cochranville, PA.  Visitation from 6 pm to 7 pm.   Additional time for visitation will take place following the service.  Private interment will at Faggs Manor Cemetery, prior to the service.  Contributions may be made in John’s memory to Christian Service Brigade, PO Box 1010, Hamburg, New York 14075 or through the website csbministries.org.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg.  Online condolences can be posted with www.wildefuneralhome.com.

Service Date: 
Nov 3 2018 - 6:59pm
Service Location: 
Manor Presbyterian Church, 505 Street Road, Cochranville, PA.

Condolences

My deepest sympathy goes out to your family on the loss of Mr. Empie.  He was my geometry teacher at Kennett in 1986 I think it was.  Time flies by so quickly.   God bless you all and I hope you find peace in this difficult time.  

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Mr Empie is the reason I was able to pass Geometry. I count him as one of my favorite teachers at Kennett High School. Later, I had the pleasure of working side-by-side with his daughter Jonna and was able to share my memories of her dad as a teacher with her. God bless you all

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It's hard to find the right words about a man I've admired most of my life. John was my mentor, my teacher, my teammate, the competition and the hardest pitcher to hit, but most of all he was my friend. He pulled no punches when he thought I did wrong, but he always did it with love. John was the definition of a honorable man of God. I was blessed to have him in my life.
-Kerry Shelton

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John was my teacher, competition on the softball field,  and most importantly, a role model. A kind, kind man!

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If I had a dollar for every high outside pitch John got me to chase I would be a rich man. Thankfully, I am a rich man anyway because I knew John Empie. He pointed me...he pointed all of us to his Saviour Jesus Christ. He may have worn the opponent's jersey but I never for a moment thought he was not on my team. Blessings to his wonderful family.

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Our deepest sympathy to all of you.  We are going to miss his wonderful smile.  He was such a wonderful Christian testimony to all of you and I''m sure he will be missed by many.  I know he's raising his beautiful tenor voice of his in the Lord's "Heavenly Choir" as he was really an asset to the Faggs Manor Choir while he sang with them.  I can still remember the duets that he and you, Lorraine, sang in several of our cantatas which I will dearly miss.

I am so glad that he and you, Lorraine, had your wonderful 60th wedding anniversary celebration only a little while ago, because it was a real joy and pleasure to come back to be a part of the choir to share in your special day. 

Our love to all of you.

Donna and Jim Law

 

 

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Deepest sympathy to Laurie,Jonna and Kent for the loss of your father.Having the Empie family as neighbors growing up,I have alot of fond memories.I'm glad I was able to reconect with John a few years ago,some really nice conversations.A great role model for all who knew him and we are all better for having the pleasure of knowing John.

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If you need an example of a man who followed the Lord, you just needed to look at John Empie.  He practices what he said.  He was a true example of how we all should live.  Cindy and I will truely miss him and cannot wait till we see him in Heaven.  

Mike & Cindy Urbanik

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My prayers, thoughts, and deepest sympathies go out to the family. John was a wonderful man and I always had such respect for him. I will never forget our trip to the Outer Banks all those years ago! I know that he will be deeply missed by so many and I pray that you find comfort from God during this difficult time. 

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