Judge John K. Reilly Jr.

He was born on October 4, 1935 in Winber, PA, the son of John K. and Winifred (Dowler) Reilly.

Judge Reilly was a graduate of the Clearfield Area High School, Penn State University, and Dickinson School of Law.

He was a veteran of the United States Army Reserves.

Judge Reilly was elected district attorney from 1964-1974 and was president of the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association from 1972-73. In 1975 he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas and served in that position until 2005 and was the first judge to ever succeed himself in Clearfield County. He was a member of the PA Bar Association for 50 years and a member of the PA Judicial Conference where he served on the Ethics Committee for a number of years.

He also taught “Introduction to Criminal Law” at the Clearfield Campus of Lock Haven University.

Judge Reilly was elected Potentate of Altoona Jaffa Shrine Club, the first citizen of Clearfield County elected to the position. He belonged to a number of organizations within the Jaffa Shrine, including the International Association Legions of Honor. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons Clearfield Lodge No 314 and was director of the Clearfield Shrine Oriental Band for 20 years. He was also a member of the BPOE Lodge #540 for 50 years and the John Lewis Shade Post #6 of the American Legion.

He was one of the founders of the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation.

He was a life time member of the Clearfield Fire Department.

Judge Reilly was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield where he was a Sunday school teacher and an Elder.

Judge Reilly is survived by his wife Mary Ann (Wilson) whom he married on August 3, 1963; two sons: Thomas John Reilly and his wife Jennifer of Spring Grove, PA and Daniel John Reilly and his wife Alyson of Lawrenceville, GA.; three grandchildren: Claire Rose Reilly, John William Reilly, and Grace Elizabeth Reilly. He is also survived by a sister, Betsy Lewin and her husband Ted of Brooklyn, NY.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service with a reception to follow will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield, 119 North Second Street, Clearfield, PA 16830 with Rev. J. Robert Mellgard and Mr. Richard Barkley officiating. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.

The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, c/o Jaffa Shrine Center P.O. Box 1984, Altoona, PA 16603 or the Presbyterian Church of Clearfield, 119 North Second St., Clearfield, PA 16830 or Clearfield County Charitable Foundation.

The Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc., of Clearfield are in charge of the arrangements.

To send an online tribute goes to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com