John Schlirf

John W. "Jack" Schlirf, of Beech Hills, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, in Latrobe Hospital. He was born Nov. 5, 1925, in St. Paul, Minn., the son of the late Armond John Schlirf and Elizabeth (Morgan) Schlirf. Though a native of Minnesota by birth he was a transplant to Pennsylvania and spent the bulk of his adult life in the Greensburg-Jeannette area. Originally his family moved to Decatur, Ga., in the summer of 1940, as the result of his father's change of jobs. Jack attended Decatur Boys High School starting in that year. He became a member of the ROTC Band as first clarinet in the reed section and was captain of the band in his senior year. He also was member of Rifle Team and the National Honor Society. In 1943, before graduation, he joined the Naval Aviation V-5 program with a deferment until his graduation in May of 1943. On graduation he began his initial training at Mercer University, in Macon, Ga., which was followed by further training at the Dallas Naval Air Station in early 1944. From there he was ordered to Flight Preparatory School at Louisiana State Normal College, in Natchitoches, La. Upon completion of the training at that site Jack was offered the opportunity to continue in the V-5 program or receive an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, which he accepted. In December of 1944, he reported to Cadet Basic School in Pass Christian, Miss., and upon completion was assigned to sea duty aboard a tanker where he served in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II. The cargoes were predominately aviation and motor gasoline in the Pacific and motor gasoline diesel fuel and heating oil in the Atlantic Theater. Upon completion of his sea duty in early 1948 he returned to Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., graduating in December of 1947 with a degree in Marine Engineering, and was licensed an engineer to operate either steam or diesel marine power plants. Concurrently he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve (Inactive) and received an Honorable Discharge as a lieutenant (jg) in December of 1960. In January of 1948, Jack joined the Marine Department at Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., sailing in their fleet of tankers and delivering cargoes of petroleum products from Texas to various ports along the east coast of the US. In the summer of 1949, he decided to return to college and entered North Carolina State University's School of Mechanical Engineering in the fall of that year. During his tenure at NCSU he was a member of and active in Pi Tau Sigma (Honorary Mechanical Engineering) and president of the Chapter, Tau Beta Pi (Honorary Engineering) vice president of the Chapter, Phi Kappa Phi (Honorary Scholastic), and Theta Tau (Engineering). He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order social fraternity. Upon graduation, Jack joined Elliott Co., in Jeannette, as a Junior Engineer starting in the Turbocharger Engineering department and worked in several different engineering functions during his career there. In 1970, he was appointed Director of Engineering, Vice President of Engineering and subsequently Vice President of Technology and Strategic Planning, the position he occupied until his retirement in the spring of 1987. He was also a long term member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Upon retiring he and Barbara decided to do some traveling. With his marine background he decided that the best way to travel was as passengers on a cruise ship. The results were voyages to Europe, South and Central America. Hawaii. Alaska and the Caribbean. In addition to travel he enjoyed golf and as an avid reader began to catch up on his reading, while Barbara pursued her gardening. Also during his retirement he was active in the Service Corps of Retired Executives, counseling would be entrepreneurs on their business problems and assisting them in starting and managing their businesses. He was a longtime member of the Greensburg Country Club, served on the Board of Directors and was president of the club from 1968 to 1970. He was also an active member of the Board of Directors of the Redstone Presbyterian Senior Care, having served in various capacities over several terms as a Board member. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Barbara Ann (Del Vecchio) Schlirf; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Jane (Phillips) Schlirf; and two younger brothers, Edward Armond and Richard Paul Schlirf. Family and friends will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. A funeral service to celebrate Jack's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Rev. Steven Craft officiating. Entombment will be in the Westmoreland County Memorial Park. Terence L. Graft, funeral director, entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information, please go to www.kepplegraft.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Redstone Highlands Presbyterian Senior Care, 6 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg.

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