John E Booth

John Edwin Booth, age 96, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. He was the son of John M. Booth and Helen H. Booth of Mount, Joy, PA. Mr. Booth was married to Barbara Norton Booth (from Scranton, PA) for 66 years (died 2019). They had three children, John Jr., married to Alexandra Smith, Katherine (Katie, died 2018), and Mary (Molly) Olshefsky, married to Jim Olshefsky; two grandchildren, Caleb and Monica Olshefsky; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Love. In retirement, John and Barbara lived at Homestead Village, a retirement community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John enjoyed bridge, golf, and their years of boating on the Chesapeake Bay. He finally gave up golf at age 89 because he could not play eighteen holes anymore – just nine holes was apparently out of the question! He was a past member of the Hamilton Club, Conestoga Country Club, Lancaster Hempfield Rotary, and Ashara-Casiphia (Masonic) Lodge #551. 

John was born May 25,1927 and raised in Mount Joy, PA where his parents owned Booth’s General Store. After graduating from high school in 1945, he was in the Navy for two years. He then attended college, first at Syracuse University and then at Penn State, where he was president of his fraternity and graduated in 1951 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He received his master’s in business administration from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Employment in several industries took him and his family to Massachusetts and then back to Pennsylvania where he finished his corporate management career as President of Lebanon Packaging Corporation. During that time, he was active in the National Paper Box Association where he served on their board for several years. After Lebanon Packaging was sold, John and Barbara owned Ely Associates, an advertising specialties firm, from 1988 until they retired in 2004, he at the age of 76. 

John is remembered by many as engaging and fun with a good sense of humor and always quick with a story. After the death of his wife, he downsized from their home in Homestead Village to an apartment in the main complex where he enjoyed bantering with all as he zipped around in his electric wheelchair. Whether meeting a stranger or greeting someone he knew, he would often engage them with his familiar question, “Are you behaving yourself?” which really was just a fun way to draw them into conversation.  

A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, 29 E Walnut St, Lancaster, PA 17602, at 11:00am followed by a luncheon. The visitation will be from 10:00am until the service begins. Private interment will follow the luncheon.  

John served as a life-long Rotarian and was a charter member of the Lancaster West (now Lancaster Hempfield) Rotary Club.  His dedication to more than 51 years of Rotary service will be remembered by all.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Rotary International.  Mail to Lancaster Hempfield Rotary Club, P.O. Box 121, Landisville, PA 17538, and note it is in memory of John E. Booth, to go towards Rotary Polio Plus, and reference Lancaster Hempfield meeting.