John E. Dever, of Valencia, Pennsylvania; formerly of Sharpsville and Sharon, passed away unexpectedly at 11:20 p.m. Friday (1-21-11) in UPMC Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was 83.

Mr. Dever was born June 18, 1927, in Sharpsville, the second son of John and Mary Joyce Dever.

He was a 1945 graduate of Sharpsville High School and served with the U.S. Navy. John attended St. Francis College, Loretto, Pennsylvania; and graduated from Bliss Electrical School, Silver Spring, Maryland, and the GE (General Electric) Training Program in Schenectady, NY. After a short stint with GE in Schenectady, he returned to the Shenango Valley where he began a career with the former Sharon Transformer Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in the sales department for high voltage transformers.

While back in the Valley, John began dating and then married fellow Sharpsville native, Patricia Krugh, in St. Bartholomew's Church on June 16, 1956. Following the birth of their first child, John and Patricia moved to Sharon where they raised their six children. After working in Sharon, Muncie (Indiana) and Pittsburgh for Westinghouse and its successor ABB (Asea Brown Boveri), John returned with Patricia to Sharpsville in 1993 where he began his retirement. He was a member of St. Bartholomew Church, Sharpsville. John moved to Valencia in March of 2010.

In addition to his wife, Patricia, John is survived by his children John 'Jack'(Anne) Dever, Kenner, Louisiana; Michael (Julie) Dever, Munhall, Pennsylvania; Margaret 'Peg' Tynes (Harold), Gibsonia, Pennsylvania; Thomas (Ronda) Dever, Bethesda, Maryland; Mary Pekor (Leonard), Murrysville, Pennsylvania; and Patrick Dever, Valencia, Pennsylvania; ten grandchildren, John and Jeanie Dever; Margee and Maeve Dever; Michael and Peter Tynes; Nora and Rose Dever; and Matthew and Jack Pekor. John is also survived by his brothers Thomas Dever, Novi, Michigan; Peter Dever (Dolores), Beaver Falls; and Patrick and Edward (Julia)Dever, Sharpsville.

Active in the Community, John served on the board and was a past President of the Mercer County Association of the Retarded and also served on the board of the statewide Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens; and the board of the former Polk (PA) State Hospital. During retirement, John was also active with the Sharpsville Service Club, having served one term as President. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 684, Sharon; the VFW in Sharpsville; and a past President of the Sharpsville Booster Club at Sharpsville High School.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Whole Life Services, 1565 E. State St., Hermitage, PA 16148.

Calling hours will be from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday (1-25-11) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State Street, Sharon. Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday (1-26-11) in St. Bartholomew Church, Sharpsville, with the Rev. John S. Lynch, retired pastor, as celebrant.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage. 11045-2