Obituary of Jack E. Morgan

Jack E. Morgan, age 90 of Lewiston NY, died Sunday January 30, 2011, in Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, after a long illness. Jack was born August 7, 1920 in Buffalo, NY, the son of the late Alfred C. and Kathleen (Erwin) Morgan. After an early divorce his father married the late Hattie Louise (Talcott) Morgan who raised him and his only brother, Robert A. Morgan who died in 2008. Jack graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA in 1938 and from Penn State University in 1942 with a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering. While at Penn State he was a member of the swimming team and a manager with the football team. One week after graduation he was a 2nd Lt. in the Corps of Engineers from Advanced ROTC. Jack attended the First Engineer Camouflage School and was loaned to the Army Air Corps where he edited a Camouflage Manual for the Air Service Command. He served at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah where he instructed cadets in camouflage courses. After two years he was returned to the ground forces and the 182nd Engineer Combat Battalion. He was then transferred to the 1286th Engineer Combat Battalion and served in the European Theater in England and Germany until V E Day. He was enroute to Japan on V J Day and was rerouted to the USA where he was honorably discharged as a Major. Jack married the late Lorraine (Hinkley) Morgan of Bethlehem. PA and they had four children in their 38 years of marriage. He returned to Penn State and earned his Master's Degree in Ceramic Engineering. He went to work for the Ceramic Division of E.I. DuPont Co. as a Field Service Engineer, traveling the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. During his employment he had lived in New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, and in Lewiston. Jack retired in 1983. After the death of his wife in 1981, he married Gretchen (Prindle) Iden Morgan on May 29, 1982. Jack has been involved with several community activities. He sang with the Retired Men's Service Club Chorus for many years and the Lewiston Choraleers. He is well known for his role as Calvin Hotchkiss in the Marble Orchard Series. He has also acted for the Theater in the Mist Group and others. Jack had worked as an Usher at ArtPark for over 26 years. He was also very active with the history of Lewiston and was President of the Historical Association for several years. He was a member of Bethlehem Lodge #283 of the Free and Accepted Masons and at one time was the youngest Mason in the state of Pennsylvania. He is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Gretchen (Prindle) Iden Morgan; his children, Deborah Morgan of Ravenna, OH, Victoria (Bill) Sullivan of New Market, NH, Alexandra (James) Smitka of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Jack T. (Alice) Morgan of Manchester, NH; a step daughter, Dr. D. Alex Iden of Raymond, MN; 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, N. Fourth & Ridge Streets, Lewiston on Friday from 3 - 7 pm. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 5, at 11:00 AM in the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, 505 Cayuga St., Lewiston, with the Rev. Robert Bellingham, the Rev. Thomas Mason, and the Rev. Milan Slahor officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Lewiston Volunteer Fire Co. #1 Ambulance Fund, 145 N. 6th St. P.O. Box 748, Lewiston, NY 14092 or to the American Heart Assoc., PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13270-3049.