John H. Humble Jr.
Active First Church of Nazarene member
John H. Humble Jr., 81, of Waynesburg, died of an apparent heart attack at 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2013, in his home.
He was born Monday, November 30, 1931, in Waynesburg, a son of the late John H. Humble Sr. and Janie Marie McNeely Humble.
Mr. Humble was an active member in First Church of the Nazarene in Waynesburg. He had served as a board member and many other positions within the church. From 1988 to 1993, Mr. Humble and his wife conducted a prison ministry weekly in the county jail.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1957. During President Eisenhower’s administration, he was stationed at the White House with the White House Signal Corps from 1952 to 1954. From 1954 to 1957 he was Chief Communication Operator at Camp David in Maryland. While at the White House, he received a letter of commendation for outstanding service during President Eisenhower’s heart attack and national security meetings at Camp David. In 1957, he received the White House Service Certificate from the Secretary of the Army, William Bruckner.
In 1958, he founded and directed the first fast pitch women’s softball league and in 1959 the men’s senior county basketball league. In 1972, he was the president of Waynesburg Nazarene Church basketball league. He also coached Legion little league for nine years.
For more than 20 years, Mr. Humble was a member of Gideons International and from 1991 to 1993, he served as Pennsylvania State Scripture Coordinator. He also served as area zone leader, Gideon Church assignment speaker and chairman of the Pittsburgh Bible Blitz.
He was an active member in Waynesburg Lions Club and was named Lion of the Year in 1986. He had more than 20 years of perfect attendance with the Waynesburg Lions Club, where he served three times as president and held several other offices. He has been the motivator in many fundraising projects, and in 1991, organized and was general chairman of the 1st annual Lions Club Fourth of July celebration; he served as chairman many times. Mr. Humble received the International President Certificate of Appreciation Award and was recognized as a Lions Melvin Jones Fellow and Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
Mr. Humble was also honored as the Citizen of the Year by East Franklin Grange 1749 in 1991. In 2004 he was honored as Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen. He was also a member of the Pittsburgh Floor Covering Association.
He served as pastor of the Greensboro Nazarene Church from 1993 to 1997 and was supply pastor for Allison Nazarene Church and others for several years. In 1995, the Pittsburgh District presented him with the Distinguished Service Award. He was active in Children Bible Ministries and was the capital fundraiser for the ministry.
Mr. Humble was employed as route foreman at the former Moore’s Bakery in Waynesburg from 1957 to 1963. He then started a carpet cleaning business and was owner and operator of Humble and Sons Carpet and Decorating in Waynesburg.
His real love was distributing Bibles and visiting shut-ins and nursing home residents to offer encouragement. He taught his children to be self-starters and hard workers and often said as an eighth grade drop out that “going to the highest office in America and positions with the Gideons and Lions as well as having a business is because God directed him through his shortcomings.”
His first wife, Bertha Mae Phillips Humble, whom he married August 1, 1952, died January 13, 1977.
Surviving are his second wife, Norma Jean Mossholder Christopher Humble, whom he married December 28, 1979.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Pamela Sue (Chuck) Beyer of Waynesburg; two sons, Johnny Bill “Weaser” (Becky) Humble and Frederick David “Slugger” (Darlene) Humble, both of Waynesburg; twelve grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three stepdaughters, Karen Toothman of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Diana White of Waynesburg and Melanie Christopher of Carmichaels; three stepsons, Kermit Christopher of Waynesburg, David Christopher of Canonsburg and Shaun Christopher of Carmichaels; 12 stepgrandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; and a niece, Nancy (William) Humble Smith of Washington.
Deceased are two sons, Danny Ed Humble and Gregory Paul “Pee Wee” Humble; a stepgrandson, Stephen Toothman; two sisters, Elizabeth Humble and Esther Humble; and a brother, Fred Humble.
Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., the time of the going-away party, Monday, November 18, in First Church of the Nazarene, 115 Deerfield Lane, Waynesburg, PA 15370, with the Rev. John Poling officiating. Burial will be in Pine Bank Cemetery, Pine Bank. Graveside military honors will be accorded by James Farrell American Legion Post 330 of Waynesburg and representatives of the U.S. Army. The Waynesburg Lions Club will hold a visitation at 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Children’s Bible Ministries, 104 East Greene Street, Carmichaels, PA 15320. Information is online at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.