John Whirlein

John "Jack" Joseph Whirlein of York, PA died Sunday, April 24, 2005 at York Hospital. He was 87. Born on December 14, 1918 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late, Josephine and Henry J. Whirlein. In June 1936, he graduated from North Catholic High School. He then attended Drexel University, where he was class president, graduating in 1941 with a major in Mechanical Engineering. Jack entered the military in the Army Air Corps and graduated from Technical Flight School on July 12, 1943. He served in the 15th Airborne in Italy. On January 22, 1944 he married Rose M. Wojack in McCook, NE and they settled in Philadelphia, PA after the war. He began his career with Budd Company as a mechanical engineer where his patents included, among others, invention of the mobile retractable lounge that operates today at Dulles International Airport; design of mechanical retractable wheels for stackable shipping containers, and the cars for the Philadelphia Elevated Train System (SEPTA) that operate today. In the mid 1950''s, he began working for General Electric Aerospace Division in Valley Forge, PA where his patents included design of the netting collar flotation device used to keep manned space capsules upright when landing in the ocean; help on the design of the Lunar Landing Module (LEM) for the first trip to the moon, and design of the mechanism that allowed the complete release of the shroud over the solid rocket fuel during rocket launch sequence. In 1975, he relocated to York, PA where he semi-retired and he and his wife became avid golfers. He was also an amateur photographer, enjoyed equitation, hunting and boating. In addition to his wife, Rose M. Whirlein of York, PA, he is survived by two daughters, R. Patricia Morris of Chester, MD and Beth Ann Buehl of Lusby, MD; one son, John J. Whirlein, Jr. of York, PA and five grandchildren, Sean Morris of San Gabriel, CA, Ian Morris of Conshohocken, PA, Jaclyn Morris of Oaklyn, NJ, Ryan Buehl of Lusby, MD and Trevor Buehl of State College, PA. He was predeceased by two sisters, Mildred and Helen. Services were held on Friday, April 29th, at St. Christopher''s Catholic Church, Chester, MD. Interment followed in Stevensville Cemetery, Stevensville, MD. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A.