John J. Happell

John Jones Happell, Jr, 74, of 2108 Woodcrest Drive, Lynchburg, Va., died August 8 at Virginia Baptist Hospital.

He is survived by one daughter, Karen (Happell) Blawie and her husband, John Francis Blawie, of Sandy Hook.

He was born in West Orange, N.J., October 13, 1925, son of the late John Jones Happell and Matilda (Imbof) Happell. He was retired after 35 years with the Babcock and Wilcox Company as a mechanical and nuclear engineer. He also worked after retirement as a consultant. He was a faithful member and past deacon and elder of the Rivermont Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg.

He was a graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of Delaware, the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology, and the University of Virginia, and held master’s degrees in mechanical, nuclear, and civil engineering. He was a registered professional engineer in the state of Virginia, a member of the Tau Beta Pi Honorary Engineering Society, and a lifetime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was a veteran of the US Navy in World War II, serving in the Pacific.

He is also survived by his much beloved wife, M. Karoline “Kay” (Seilbel) Happell; one son, Eric John Happell and his wife Constance (Pease) Happell of Huntsville, Ala.; a sister, Adelaide (Happell) Flaherty of Bloomfield, N.J. and her husband, Harry; five grandchildren, John Francis Blawie, Jr, Brendan Happell Blawie, Marian Karoline Blawie, Alexander Newton Happell, and Brian James Happell; and three nieces and two nephews.

A celebration of victory in Christ will be held at the Rivermont Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 11, at 11 am, with visitation in the Cheatham Room one hour prior to the service.

Those wishing to make memorials might consider Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 2424 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503, or the Lynchburg Humane Society, 3305 Naval Reserve Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501.

The Newtown Bee         August 11, 2000