John J. McLaughlin Jr.
1926-2013

AGAWAM- John Joseph McLaughlin Jr. of Agawam, 87 years old, entered into eternal rest on December 25, 2013. He would have been 88 in February 2014. John was a resident of Agawam for over 58 years. Born in Springfield to John J. McLaughlin Sr. and Ada Marion (Fish) Driscoll. John grew up in West Springfield and was a 1943 graduate of West Side High School. John also attended Western New England College in Business Management. He enlisted in the US Navy November 1943. He served as a Radio Operator 2nd class from 1943-1946 aboard the Destroyer Escort ship USS Silverstein DE534. John earned two bronze battle stars for the biggest battles of WWII at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also served as part of the pacific support fleet to escort the damaged USS Enterprise back to San Francisco. He earned the American Campaign Medal, U.S. WWII Victory Medal, American Pacific Theatre Medal and the Philippines Liberation Defense Medal. John returned to Agawam as a veteran to marry Vera Diduk in 1948. He was a member of the Agawam Baptist Church where he served in the church choir, as deacon and on the pastoral relations committee. He worked for 15 years as a purchasing agent for R. E. Phelons in East Longmeadow and 25 years as purchasing manager for Jahn Foundries of Springfield. John served for 20 years as a Boy Scout Troop committee member for Boy Scout 82 of Agawam and as the Committee Chairman for 12 years. He most recently served in the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association as acting skipper 1996-1998. John leaves his loving family and wife of 65 years Vera (Diduk) McLaughlin, two sons Mark McLaughlin and fiancée Joyce Karpinski of Russell and Peter McLaughlin and wife Cheryl of Westfield. He also leaves 5 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 2-5pm at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home with a service on Monday at 11 am at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Agawam Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Boy Scout Troop 82 of Agawam, c/o Agawam Congregational Church, 745 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001 or to the Agawam Baptist Church, 760 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001. For more information please go to curranjones.com.