John William Finafrock

John William Finafrock, 81, of Huntersville, North Carolina passed away November 28, 2021.

John was born in Lemasters, Pennsylvania on July 17, 1940 to the late William Finafrock and Ruth Defenderfer Finafrock. 

He graduated from James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg, PA, earned a BA degree from Columbia College and a MBA degree from Thornewood University.

He has over 40 years of logistics and program management experience in depot maintenance; supply management, inventory management, integrated logistics management, logistics business system analysis, and contract issue mediation. This experience includes Project Management, National Inventory Control Point, and Command Ombudsman assignments. He has extensive logistics and commodity management experience with aviation, missile, armament, and ground support equipment.

John held Federal Civil Service positions with the US Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, PA; USAWECOM, Rock Island, IL; USAAVSCOM, St. Louis, MO; USATSARCOM, St. Louis, MO; USAMICOM, Redstone Arsenal, AL; and USAAMCOM, Redstone Arsenal, AL. Since retirement from the Federal Civil Service, John has been associated with Kajax Engineering, Inc., Arlington, VA and SNVC LC, Burke, VA.

He served as Chairman for the Tennessee Valley Chapter, Society of Logistics Engineers; several offices for the Tennessee Valley Chapter, Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA); he is a member of the Association of the US Army (AUSA) and a former Direct of the Madison (Alabama) County Chapter of the America Heart Association.

John received the AMC Commander’s Award as one of Ten Outstanding AMC Personnel of the Year and several Exceptional Performance Awards. He received the USAMICOM Commanders Award for Exceptional Performance and two Department of the Army awards for Meritorious Civilian Service. During 1987, John received the Distinguished Service Award from the North Alabama Chapter of Federally Employed Women for his initiatives while serving as the Deputy Direct of Material Management, USAMICOM.

His hobbies include golf, racquetball, football, ice hockey, bicycling, and personal computers. He has been active in nonpartisan polities in city government, church, and the community. While serving as Chairman for the Society of Logistics Engineers, he initiated action to award scholarships to accredited universities for individuals interested in pursuing logistics management as a career. He was also designated as an “Ace” for his membership recruitment for the Army Aviation Association of America.

In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his son, Donald R. Finafrock.

Surviving are his daughters, Tracy Ketchie, Teresa Ott, and Lesley Finafrock; brother, Carl Finafrock; sister, Ginger Sipes; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.  He is also survived by two nieces, four nephews, and one great-nephew.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation.

A memorial service will be held at a later date as determined by the family.

The Finafrock family is under the care of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.kepnerfh.com.