By Staff
Mr. John E. Skvarla, Jr., age 85, a resident of Washington and Blounts Creek, NC, died January 19, 2008 after a short illness.
Mr. Skvarla was born August 2, 1922 in Clifton, N.J. He held a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Chemistry from Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York and was, during World War II, an early selection by the United States Army for participation in the Manhattan Project for development of the first atomic bomb. Mr. Skvarla headed one of the particle separation laboratories at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Facility, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. During this assignment, he met and married his wife of 56 years, Mona C. Skvarla of Hamlet, N.C., who preceded him in death in 2001.
After service in the U.S. Army, Mr. Skvarla spent the next 30 years with the research and development group of the Union Carbide Corporation, having assignments in Oak Ridge, Paducah, Kentucky, Tuxedo Park, New York and Niagara Falls, New York. He is the holder of numerous U.S. Patents.
Upon early retirement from Union Carbide, Mr. Skvarla, an avid yachtsman, moved to Blounts Creek, North Carolina. He became the founder and President of Carolina Liquid Blasting Corporation which provided industrial hydro blasting and vacuum cleaning services to corporations such as PCS Phosphate and Weyerhauser.
Mr. Skvarla is survived by four children: son, John E. Skvarla, III and wife, Elizabeth of Pinehurst, N.C., daughter, Jennifer S. Alligood of Terra Ceia, N.C., daughter, Mona V. Hogan of Niagra Falls, NY and son, Paul M. Skvarla of Terra Ceia, N.C. He has ten grandchildren, Matt and Kate Skvarla, Teresa Van Staalduinen, Allison Hill, Katlin, Richard, John and Ann Hogan, and Ashley Henderson and Brenton Alligood. Mr. Skvarla is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Andrew and Marin Van Staalduinen and Caroline and Graham Hill.
Of Mr. Skvarla’s five siblings, sisters, Jeanette De Marco, formerly of Washington, N.C. and Genevieve Skvarla survive him.
A funeral service will be held at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 24, 2008 in Washington, NC with Father Arturo Cabra officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at Hillside Funeral Service, Washington, N.C. and friends are welcome at all times at the home of Jennifer Alligood, Terra Ceia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of North Carolina, Neurosciences Hospital, C/O Dr. David Rubinow, Chapel Hill, N.C.
You may share a memory with the family and view Mr. Skvarla’s video tribute by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com
Hillside Funeral Service of Washington is serving the Skvarla family.
Paid Obituary