John Barry Lawler, Sr.

John Barry Lawler, Sr. age 95, of Mechanicsburg, passed away on October 28, 2016 at the Bridges at Bent Creek.

Beloved husband of Catherine (nee Snowden). Loving father of John, Jr., Thomas, Michael and Kathleen.

John was born September 15th, 1921 in Norfolk, VA to the late Vincent Joseph and Marion (Ewell) Lawler.

Mr. Lawler was raised in Baltimore, MD where he attended catholic schools including Mount Saint Joseph High School. Following high school he went on to attend college prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corp.

During WWII he served with the Army Air Corp, flying 120 combat missions in the European Theater as a British Spitfire and P-51 pilot, 90 of those missions as flight leader. Capt. Lawler flew raids in Ploesti, Budapest and Vienna flying 325 combat hours and destroying 11 enemy aircraft.

For these actions he was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak leaf cluster and the Air Commendation Medal with 16 Oak leaf clusters. Captain Lawler was the last surviving Double Ace in Pennsylvania. Upon returning from combat he went on to become a flight supervisor and pilot instructor stationed in Florida. After leaving the military, he worked for and had a long career with Commercial Credit from which he retired.

He is survived by three sons, John Barry, Jr. of Enola, Thomas Vincent (Kristine) of Algonquin, IL, and Michael Richard of Mechanicsburg; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his beloved wife Catherine, daughter Kathleen Nadler Leitzel; his parents Vincent and Marion; his siblings Vincent, Marion Annette (Ann), Jean, Mary Sue and William.

Committal services will be held at 11am Thursday at Rolling Green Cemetery, Lower Allen Twp.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to: Asana Hospice and Palliative Care, 4813 Jonestown Road, Suite 201, Harrisburg, PA 17109