John N. "Bub" Deems, Jr. age 80 of Uniontown, PA died Tuesday, September 6, 2005 in the Uniontown Hospital following a lengthy illness.
He was born January 8, 1925 in Bentleyville, PA a son of the late John N. Deems, Sr. and Sara Wergin Deems.
Mr. Deems was a graduate of California High School.
A 42-year employee of West Penn Power, he retired as an Industrial Development Representative and also worked as a lineman and meter reader.
He served as a Staff Sergeant with the U.S Army Air Corp during WWII and saw action in the European Theatre while serving with the 9th Air Force, 397th Bombardment Group, 599th Squadron.
Mr. deems was a tail gunner on a B-26 Marauder. He was involved in two mid-air collisions and was shot down once over France.
He was held as a Prisoner of War and escaped with the help of the French Underground.
He was awarded the P.O.W. Medal, European Campaign Medal, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, African Campaign Medal, Purple Heart and the WWII Victory Medal.
Mr. Deems was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, V.F.W. Post 47 of Uniontown, Military Order of the Purple Heart, B-26 Marauder Historical Society, Fayette County Fair Board, Menallen Grange 1091 and the National Dodge Brothers Antique Car Collectors Club.
He was a lifelong member of the Grace United Methodist Church.
On June 26, 1948 he married Dolores Boozer Deems of Uniontown, who survives.
Surviving in addition to his wife is a son - Ron Deems and his wife Nora of Uniontown, PA; One Daughter - Debra Deems of Uniontown, PA; Two Grandchildren - Susan Frazier and her husband Josh of Columbus, OH, Jeff Deems and his wife Brandi of Uniontown, PA; Three Brothers - Eugene Deems and his wife Wanda of Beallsville, PA, Charles Deems and his wife Clara of Coal Center, and PA, Darrell Deems and his wife Janie of Scenery Hill, PA; Five Sisters - Wanda Colvin and her husband Raymond of Charleroi, PA, Edie Sosnak and her husband Bernard of Charleroi, PA, Norma Dennis of Monongahela, PA, Kaye Mowrey and her husband John of Bethel Park, PA and Karen Walsh and her husband Charles of Annapolis, MD.; Several Nieces and Nephews.
Friends will be received Wednesday from 7 to 9pm and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm in the John B. Greenlee Funeral Home 2830 Main St. Beallsville, PA where services will be held on Friday, September 9, 2005 at 11:00am with Rev. Dan Owens and Rev. Randy Landman co-officiating. Interment will be in the Beallsville Cemetery. Full graveside military rites will be accorded by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 of Uniontown, PA.