John E. Church, 97, Navy vet made career in insurance
May 11, 2023
John Edward Church of Pawleys Island died April 2 at the Arbors. He was 97.
He was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Middletown, Conn., the son of Charles H. and Lulu Ekberg Church. He was an Eagle Scout and served in the Navy during World War II. One of his greatest accomplishments was flying planes off aircraft carriers. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion.
After the war, Mr. Church worked for Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., before finding his true profession in insurance and financial planning.
He graduated from what is now Hillyer University Hartford with a business degree. He received his master’s degree from American University in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and became a certified life underwriter.
He was married for 61 years to the late Dorothy Baldwin Church of Wethersfield, Conn., whom he met at a church social in Hartford after the war.
Mr. Church enjoyed the outdoors and his family, and loved God. He also was an animal lover who rescued many cats and dogs.
He was a regular at All Saints Church until he had to move into the Lakes at Litchfield.
He is survived by his son, David B. Church of Glastonbury, Conn., and his daughter Susan Church Gasque (Mark) of Pawleys Island; and by 10 nephews and nieces and their children in New England, the Carolinas and Florida.
His brother, Charles Church, died before him.
His family thanked the staff at The Lakes, The Arbors and Tidelands Hospice for their care of Mr. Church.
A memorial service will be held June 10 at 2 p.m. at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, where he was a life-long member.
Memorials may be made to St. Frances Animal Center in Georgetown or to a veteran’s group.
