John Peter Blaine

John Peter Blaine, of Columbia, MD, passed on peacefully on September 17, 2017, in the care of Gilchrist Hospice Center surrounding by his loving family. John embodied an amazing spirit of kindness, generosity and love for his family and will be sorely missed by them.

He was the beloved husband of the late Josephine Blaine; devoted father of Pamela Vaughn (Michael); brother of Matthew Blaine (Beverly), Father Philip Blaine, and the late William Blaine (Catherine); grandfather of Adam, Justin and Emily Vaughn.

John was born on November 20, 1922, in Staten Island, NY, and grew up there during the depression. He graduated from St. Francis High School/Jr. College in 1942. In October of that year he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving as an electricians mate during WWII aboard the USS Kankakee in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in January 1946 and was a proud member of The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Returning from the war, John attended Sampson College and then Rider University and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Accounting. He worked for Bethlehem Steel, Volkart Bros., Inc. and spent 26 years as an auditor for Dept. of Defense.

John retired from the Defense Contract Audit Agency in July 1983. He was a voracious reader and learner in his retirement and especially enjoyed mystery novels, archaeology, philosophy, math and history.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, September 20, from 5 to 8pm at Witzke Funeral Home, 5555 Twin Knolls Rd., Columbia MD. Funeral mass will be held the next day at 1:30pm at The Shrine of St. Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Rd. Ellicott City, MD 21042. Interment will be at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, in the chapel, 350 Province Line Rd, Wrightstown, NJ 08562, on Thursday, September 28th at 2pm.