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JOHN ALBERT BARBANO JR (1947-2021)
John Barbano was born on April 8, 1947 to John and Ella Barbano. A younger sister, Janey, was born in 1948. His parents owned Buxmont Dry Cleaners in Hatboro; a business that had been started by his grandparents.
John was a life-long resident of Horsham, attending various local Catholic schools, Valley Forge Military Academy, and eventually attending HHHS for his senior year.
Our yearbook tells us he was friendly, quiet, a good dresser, and a fan of the Billiard Ball. It also says he drove a “hot mustang”. Given that Ford only began production of the Mustang in mid-1964, his 1965 burgundy beauty was quite a significant car for a HS senior in 1966. His father wanted him to get one of the first ones on the market.
In June of 1966, right after graduation, John joined the Air Force. He served with the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing as an aircraft maintenance technician. His airlift unit supported locations in Southeast Asia, dropping supplies in Vietnam among other places. He served until November 1969. He was proud to have served and grateful to have avoided agent orange. He was a member of Horsham VFW post #8788.
In 1980 he married Shirley Solliday, a 1967 Wissahickon HS graduate and they lived in Ambler for a short time. Eventually they purchased a home on Homestead Lane in Horsham, where John would continue to live for the rest of his life. They divorced amicably in 1993.
John worked for many years as an aeronautical Lab technician in research and development for Standard Pressed Steel Technologies in Jenkintown. (One of the leading manufacturers of aeronautical hardware)
John was a quiet, private man with a love of nature, astronomy, and airplanes. An avid reader, he was especially drawn to all things scientific.
John was close to his Aunt and Uncle, Natalie and Edward Barbano, especially so after the deaths of his parents. In their final years he helped his cousins care for the elderly couple until they died in 2018 and 2019. Then, at the end of his life, John’s cousins stepped in to support him in his battle with advanced cancer. He died of a heart attack on April 8, 2021.
On April 14, services were held at Wetzel and Son Funeral Home in Willow Grove. Rev Joseph Rymdeika from St Catherine of Siena Church in Horsham officiating.
A graveside service followed at Whitemarsh Cemetery where he was buried near his parents.
In lieu of flowers, his family asked that donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project in Topeka, Kansas.
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www.wetzelandson.com
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Regina Kolin (Bulloch)
I remember going to the dances at the Hatboro fire house ( I think they were on Friday nights). Anway, Johnny was a great dancer and I remember feeling exceptionally lucky to get to dance with him during the night.
Warren Kimmel
Special Thanks to Sandy Kohler for gathering the information about John and composing this for his legacy. I remember John from school and hanging out at the Billard Ball on York Rd. May we all salute John's service during the Vietnam War.
Linda Hovey (Curry)
It's always so sad to read of the passing of one of our classmates! I agree with Regina that John was a great dancer. I didn't know him very well since he was only there the one year but I remember he was nice. And she's right about the firehouse dances on Fridays nights, we had such great dances growing up. The kids of today have missed all that!
I'm so proud of all the classmates who served in the armed forces. John did our class and his country proud!
thanks to Sandy for all the updates. Some of the things I about John I didn't know! I like to know how everyone did in their lives. I love to look at the pictures and see how people have changed, or not! I think it brings us all closer to our far flung classmates and closure as well.