Former Thorne Middle School Teacher John R. Harper Dies at 72

Obituary courtesy John F. Pfleger Funeral Home

John R. Harper, 72, of Middletown, died on February 11, 2014. He was born in Woodbury, NJ and lived in Ft. Eustis, VA, moving to Middletown in 1969. He received his Bachelor's degree from Glassboro State College and Master's from Monmouth University. As First Lieutenant in the US Army, John led a company responsible for riot control in our nation’s capitol and established the first dependent youth athletic association at Ft. Eustis.  

John was a teacher and head of the Math Department at Thorne Middle School in Middletown for 30 years. He was an active member of MTEA, NJEA, NEA and NCTM, and the MTEA bowling league. He was the clock manager for boys and girls basketball games at Middletown North and South and chaperoned South cheerleading events for his wife Phyllis, who was the coach. He enjoyed his retirement on Long Beach Island where he was a devoted parishioner and usher at St. Francis Church in Brant Beach. For John, everything revolved around serving; family, community and country. 

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Phyllis Lindstrom Harper, daughter and son-in-law, Felicia and Louis Halbert; son and daughter-in-law Jason and Jessica Harper; grandchildren, Gavin and Ashlynn Halbert; and brother Nelson.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Walter S. and Regina M. Harper; daughter, Kristi Renee; father and mother-in-law, H. Theodore and Helen Phyllis Lindstrom and brother-in-law, Richard Lindstrom.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 76, 2014 from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. A Funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18 at 11 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association online at www.alz.org, We Care Adult Daycare, 500 Rt. 35, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or Arnold Walter Nursing Home, 622 Laurel Av., Hazlet, NJ 07730. 

For more information, to send condolences or for directions, please visit www.pflegerfh.com.