Surrounded by his loving family, John Ondish, 91, joined his friends in heaven on June 12, 2019. John was born July 5, 1927 and was raised in Swoyersville, PA and served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1947. He retired from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. after serving 32 years as an Exhibit Specialist.

He was very active in his community and was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church, Front Royal, VA. He participated in the Page County, VA Relay for Life. He was a member of the “Singing Capital Chorus,” the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, for 35 years. John was a very patriotic man who loved his country and did everything he could to protect freedom guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Patricia Swanson Ondish of Front Royal, VA, and three daughters, Deborah Johnson (Dennis) of Ranson, WV, Susan Lawrence (Rex) of Front Royal, VA, and Carla Chamberlain (Bradley) of Rileyville, VA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Brandi McGehee (Michael), Ashley Sarna (Thomas), Bradley Chamberlain II, and Andrew Chamberlain as well as four great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Zachary McGehee and Evan and Evelyn Sarna.

He is also survived by brothers Richard Ondish of MD and Dale Ondish of PA and sister Jeannie Ondish Gosart of PA. He is preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Eva (Huray) Ondish, brother Andrew Ondish Jr., and sister Evelyn Ondish Sopczak.

A memorial service will be held on July 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Calvary Episcopal Church, 132 N. Royal Avenue, Front Royal, VA 22630. John will be laid to rest at Prospect Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Fisher House Foundation as our military veterans were very near and dear to John’s heart. Please go online to http://engage.fisherhouse.org/goto/johnondish to make a donation on behalf of John Ondish or mail donations to Fisher House Foundation, 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852.