John T. Skehan, Sr. LTC, USA retired, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2024 at the age of 92.

 

”Jack” was born on December 23, 1931 to John and Julia Tevlin Skehan in New York City.

Julia passed away shortly after giving birth and John remarried Eileen Baldwin and they moved

to the Bronx. He attended Fordham Prep and Fordham University where he received a BS in

Chemistry. He married his sweetheart Loretto Behan, also of the Bronx, and they moved to

Virginia Beach where he served in the US Army.

 

In 1955, he joined the DuPont Company and moved to Claymont, DE. He was a Researcher

and Chemist working in locations throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His work

includes patents for Krytox, a grease and hydraulic fluid still manufactured today. He retired in

1992 after 37 years with DuPont. He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical

Engineers.

 

His Military Service continued with the Army Reserves and he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in

1992.

 

Jack was a committed member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Claymont, DE for more than

60 years. His distinct New York accent was renowned by parishioners where he was the

standing lector at 12:00 mass for years.

 

Jack was generous with his time and of great service to his country and community. He taught

CCD, volunteered at the Claymont Community Center, Knights of Columbus, B’nai B’rith House,

Delaware Veterans Hospital and was a member of The American Legion Post 18. He truly

loved his volunteer service at The Seamen’s Center in Wilmington and took great joy in helping

sailors from abroad navigate the streets of Wilmington.

 

Known for his insatiable appetite for knowledge, he was a voracious reader. It was not

uncommon to catch him reading a book, watching a hockey game, and listening to Russian

language tapes, doing all simultaneously. He loved his family, sports, travel, music, art,

language and genealogy.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretto and son, Jerry.  He is survived by his children,

Catherine (Tom), John “Jake” (Linda), Lawrence, Joanne “Twig”; brother, Bill Skehan and his

wife, Eileen of Plandome, New York and their children, Michael and Deirdre; grandchildren,

Christine, Andrew, Charlie, Martha and Johnny; and great grandchildren, Lennix and Cullen.

 

A  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am, Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at Holy Rosary Catholic

Church, 3200 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE 19703, where friends and family will gather at 10am for

visitation. Interment will be private.

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack’s honor to The Seamen’s Center of

Wilmington, Inc., PO Box 405, Wilmington, DE 19899.  https://www.scwde.org/#/

 

To offer condolences, please visit:

Gebhartfuneralhomes.com

302.798.7726