John Rollins Reaves

As originally published on Saturday, July 21, 2012.

John Rollins Reaves, Jr., 90, died on Friday, July 20, 2012, at his home in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He was the son of the late John R. Reaves, Sr., and Amanda Sjoblom Reaves, Lake Mary, FL. He was born in Orlando, FL on October 15, 1921.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Jane (Rohrbaugh) Reaves, Emmitsburg, and a son, Rev. Ronald E. Reaves, and his wife, Lucretia, Frederick, MD. He was predeceased by a son, Gary Rollins Reaves, who died June 28, 1978. He is also survived by a sister, Virginia (Reaves) Heath, Eden, NC, and a sister-in- law, Bobie Jean Reaves, Lake Mary, FL.

He has three grandchildren, Pamela Miles and her husband, Randy, Williamsport, MD; Bradford Reaves and his wife, Andrea, Myersville, MD; Gregory Reeves, Somerset, PA and great grandchildren, Delaney and Jordyn Miles and Chailene and Kristiauna Reaves.

He is remembered by several close friends, neighbors and caregivers, Denise Sauvageau, Catherine Forrence and Glen Higgs, all of Emmitsburg, MD.

Mr. Reaves was a decorated combat veteran of World War II, serving in the U. S. Army, 1st Battalion of the 32nd Division. He fought for nine months in 1944 as an infantry Staff Sergeant in the jungles of New Guineau, as well as on the island of Morotai, Indonesia.

On April 17, 1945, after the war, John and Betty Jane Rohrbaugh were married in the parsonage of Calvary Methodist Church, Frederick, MD, by the late Rev. Franklin Haas.

Following his service in the United States Army, Mr. Reaves worked as a woodworker at the Gettysburg Panel Company before he took up a trade as a licensed electrician with skills he had acquired from his father. He was licensed in Frederick and Carroll Counties and eventually owned Reaves Electric Company, where he sold appliances. He was also an electrical consultant and troubleshooter for Taney Supply, Taneytown, MD.

Mr. Reaves was an avid fisherman and owned a boat, the 'Betty Jane' on the Delaware Bay, where he offered fishing excursions. He was licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard as a boat captain.

He was a member of Elias Lutheran Church, Emmitsburg, where he served on Church Council, Church Property Committee, and taught Sunday School with his wife, Betty. He was a member of Tyrian Lodge #205. He served briefly as Mayor of the Town of Emmitsburg.

Service of Remembrance for Mr. Reaves will be held on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at 10:30 AM at Elias Lutheran Church, 100 West North Ave., Emmitsburg, MD. Interment will be in the Elias Lutheran Cemetery Rev. Jon R. Greenstone officiating.

If you knew John, and would like to see him remembered
 in the next History of Emmitsburg, Please send us any stories or
 anecdotes about him to us at: history@emmitsburg.net