John G. Harron

John G. Harron of West Chester, PA, died on January 8, 2023 at the age of 85.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, John was a 1955 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1959, an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1961 and an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1968. He was also a graduate of the 1984 Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

He dedicated 34 years of his career working for the Sun Oil Company, both in the Philadelphia area and in Toledo. John rose to the position of Toledo Refinery Manager, following in the footsteps of his father. His appointment marked the first time in Sun’s history that a father and son served as manager of the same refinery. His next position brought him back to the Philadelphia area, where he served as President of the Sun Olin Chemical Company in Claymont, DE. 

Spending one third of his lifetime in each of the cities of Toledo, OH; Media, PA; and West Chester, PA, John was very involved in all of the communities in which he lived. He served on the St. Charles Hospital Board in Toledo, was a member of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and served as section chairperson for the United Way for several years. He also served on the Middletown Township Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board, as well as the boards of the Toledo Opera Association and the Valley Forge, PA Boy Scouts. 

John was such an enthusiastic supporter of Notre Dame that at one time he installed a horn on his car that played the Notre Dame Fight song. This may have influenced all three of his children to follow his lead in attending the University of Notre Dame. His hobbies over the years included skiing, golf and basketball. Always competitive in his favorite card and board games, his mind was a steel trap until the day he died, never forgetting a name, date or story. He was wholeheartedly devoted to his church and friends, but most of all, to his family. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. and Roberta C. Harron and his brother Michael O. Harron. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Diana S. Harron (Sue), sisters Dr. Sheila Harron (William Loewe) of Silver Spring, MD, Bridget Harron of Savannah, GA, sister-in-law Theresa Harron of Dunwoody, GA, and his children John L. Harron of Okemos, MI, Melissa Berens of Charlotte, NC and Amy Van Derzee (Jon) of Collegeville, PA, and grandchildren Jennifer, Stephanie, John Patrick, Jessica, and Carolyn Harron; Roman, Michaela, Noah, Cecelia, Helena and Lydia Berens; Valentina, Victoria and Alexa Van Derzee. He also will be greatly missed by Sue’s children, Melody Akin (James) of Munford, TN, Carrie Beth McDaniel of West Chester, PA, as well as their children and grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church in West Chester 12:00-1:00 PM Friday, January 13^th with his Memorial Mass following at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be sent to Catholic Charities at 100 N. 20th Street, Suite 301 Philadelphia, PA 19103 or the St. Agnes Dorothy Day Room at 233 W Gay St, West Chester, PA 19380.