John Paul Harper

John P. Harper, 95, of Gate City, passed away in Hospice care in Kingsport, TN on July 26. John was a resident of Buckhannon, WV for almost 60 years before moving to Gate City. John was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1924. He graduated from Perry High School and after the war, from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Geology in 1951. John had also completed various courses towards an MBA. John spent 29 months in the U.S. Army during WWII and was stationed in India during the India/Burma campaign. He was a member of the 145th Ordinance. He was discharged in late 1945 and returned to Pittsburgh. John spent most of his career with Columbia Gas and what is now Dominion Energy, having retired from Dominion in 1987.  John was a project manager on pipeline projects throughout the eastern U.S. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, John was heavily involved in the Boy Scouts and was a long time Scout Master for Troop 127 in Buckhannon. Both of John’s sons were scouts and obtained the rank of Eagle. Before and after retirement, John and his wife enjoyed traveling the U.S. and throughout the world. After his wife Dolores’s death in 1992, John continued to travel and as a 90th birthday event, he took a cruise to Alaska with family members. John was a long time member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and for the last 3 years had been attending Hermon United Methodist Church in Gate City, VA.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Harper; and his daughter, Susan Harper Hitt.

John is survived by his son, Paul Harper and wife, Brenda of Gate City, VA; son, Bill Harper and wife Denise of So. Charleston, WV; grandchildren, Scott Harper and wife, Brenda of Kingsport, TN; Allison Hitt of Muncie, IN; Matt Hitt of So. Charleston, WV and Alexandra Harper of Lexington, KY; along with various nieces and nephews in WV, VA, OK and PA.

His final services will be held in Buckhannon, WV.

In lieu of flowers, John asked that donations be made to: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 88 S. Kanawha St. Buckhannon, WV 26201 or Hermon United Methodist Church, 5395 E. Carters Valley Rd. Gate City, VA 24251.