John A. Price

Col. John A. Price, 86, of Temple died on July 1, 2007 in Golden Living Center, Marietta, GA, where he had been a patient since June 8.

Born on July 7, 1920, in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late John H. and Mary (Finady) Price.

John was a 1937 graduate of Muhlenberg High School. He also received a Master of Science in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1973.

He served as a U.S. Army Bomber Pilot during WWII, North Africa. He was one of the first ten to be trained as a helicopter pilot. He served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force; Korean conflict, Vietnam War and air rescue for the Apollo mission, retiring in 1970. He was awarded numerous metals and awards including the Legion of Merit, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Metal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Armed Forces Reserve Metal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Metal.

Surviving are family and friends; William Price, CA; Debra Tocher, Grass Valley, CA; Curt and Joan Essig, Muhlenberg Township; Brownie Freeman, Lebanon TN; Dawn Gillberg, Topsfield, MA; Craig Freeman, Bellbrook, OH; John Blake Freeman, Old Hickory, TN; Amber Orton, Melrose, MA; Anna Essig, Laureldale; Jean and Donald Hoster, Sinking Spring; and Marilyn Mears, Barnegat, NJ.

Services will be Friday at 8:30 am in the Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale, with the Rev. Grant A. Wickert officiating. A viewing will be held a half hour prior to services. Burial will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the PA Veteran's Memorial Trust Fund, Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Bureau for Veteran Affairs, Building S-0-47, FTIB, Annville, PA 17003-5002. For online condolences please visit, www.christfuneralhome.com.