Rash's Surname Index
Notes for John Balderston HARKER
John Balderston Harker, 92, of Falmouth, Massachusetts and Titusville, Florida, passed peacefully on Friday, August 22, 2014, at Falmouth Hospital with heart failure. John was born June 21, 1922 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, son of Herbert Harker Jr., and Sarah Balderston Harker. John spent his early years in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Cheltenham, Pennsylvania when he was twelve. He graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1940, where he met and later married his wife, Isabella Roberts, on May 20, 1944. They were married for 69 years prior to Isabella's passing in June 2013. John received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Temple University and his M.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He had a distinguished career running his own consulting business, The Harker Organization, Inc. whose business mission was helping the banking industry improve employee relations with the introduction of structured salary administration, attitude surveys, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personnel assessments. John was a birthright Quaker registered with the 12th Street Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. During his retirement years, with a passion for family history, John researched his ancestor and fifth generation grandmother, Betsy Ross, and her role in designing and making of the first symbolic American Flag at the request of George Washington. Historians questioned the family history and John uncovered new, previously unknown facts that further supported Betsy's role. In 2005, he published "Betsy Ross's Five Pointed Star: Elizabeth Claypoole, Quaker Flag Maker - A Historical Perspective". In April 2014, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and the Betsy Ross House honored John for his research and a commemorative brick in his honor is on display in the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House that reads "Seek Truth", and "Betsy was a legend in her own time". John is survived by his four children, Scott Harker, Groton, MA; Sandra-Lynne Hadamard, Woods Hole, MA; Michele Peal, Falmouth, MA; and John R. Harker, Mt. Vernon, ME. John also leaves eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His sister, Kate Vaughan, of Cheltenham, PA., survives him and his brothers George and William predeceased him. John was a kind, gentle and loving soul, whose capacity for forgiveness knew no bounds and was an inspiration to his children and a dear friend to all who knew him. Above all, John would want everyone to seek truth and peace. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at 2:00pm, at the West Falmouth Friends Meeting House, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA.
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020