In Memory Of
John August Sellen
1925
2018
John August Sellen
August 25, 1925 — October 12, 2018
John August Sellen, TSgt (ret) USAF
Resident of Elmcroft of Fairborn, former resident of Dayton, Ohio.
Born in Syracuse, NY August 25, 1925 died October 12, 2018 at Dayspring of Enon. John Sellen was a World War II Army veteran, a member of the 106th Infantry, 424th Regiment that fought at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps which became the US Air Force in 1947. John spent 21 plus years in the military, traveling to places all over the globe including Japan and England. He retired from the Air Force in 1966. His second career in civilian life began with working for NCR as a developmental electrical technician. John received 2 awards from NCR for devices that he invented which they patented. He also worked on homing devices for downed pilots in Vietnam. When NCR left Dayton, he worked for Dayton Walther Corporation briefly and then began working at WPAFB in the Civil Service for the rest of his working life.
John and Doloris ("the love of my life") met in St Louis, Missouri when he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married 68 years ago on September 2, 1950 in Pocahontas, Arkansas. John loved music and was an accomplished musician. From playing piano as a child to being a bugler during WWII and playing and performing with the harmonica from the time he was a young man until his later years. John was a member of several local harmonica groups that entertained at public events and senior centers/assisted living/nursing homes. He was also accomplished on roller skates dancing and performing with a partner in the 1940s. A man of many interests, he loved travel, coin collecting, rock hunting, photography, carpentry of furniture, building airplane and car models, and doing cross word puzzles daily.
John is pre-deceased by his parents John August Selinski and Elinor Marie Breed née Leinbaugh and four sisters Helena Richer, June M. DeBrucque, Matilda Foster, and Bernice Sellen. He is survived by his wife Doloris A. Sellen née Jones, children Kathleen A. Hennessy (Michael), Michele A. Shelton (James) of Colorado Springs, CO, Debra A. Henning (Jeffrey), John P. Sellen (Beatrice) of Lawton, OK, his brother Ernest L. Sellen (Joanne) of Manlius, NY, a sister Elizabeth Walker née Breed (Donald) of Baldwinsville, NY and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful to the entire staff of Dayspring of Enon for their loving kindness and excellent care during John's final days.
Visitation and memorial services will be at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 3:00-5:00pm. A Military Honor Guard will take place at 5:00pm. John will be cremated and inurned at the Dayton National Cemetery at the Veterans Administration at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.NewcomerDayton.com.
Resident of Elmcroft of Fairborn, former resident of Dayton, Ohio.
Born in Syracuse, NY August 25, 1925 died October 12, 2018 at Dayspring of Enon. John Sellen was a World War II Army veteran, a member of the 106th Infantry, 424th Regiment that fought at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps which became the US Air Force in 1947. John spent 21 plus years in the military, traveling to places all over the globe including Japan and England. He retired from the Air Force in 1966. His second career in civilian life began with working for NCR as a developmental electrical technician. John received 2 awards from NCR for devices that he invented which they patented. He also worked on homing devices for downed pilots in Vietnam. When NCR left Dayton, he worked for Dayton Walther Corporation briefly and then began working at WPAFB in the Civil Service for the rest of his working life.
John and Doloris ("the love of my life") met in St Louis, Missouri when he was stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois. They married 68 years ago on September 2, 1950 in Pocahontas, Arkansas. John loved music and was an accomplished musician. From playing piano as a child to being a bugler during WWII and playing and performing with the harmonica from the time he was a young man until his later years. John was a member of several local harmonica groups that entertained at public events and senior centers/assisted living/nursing homes. He was also accomplished on roller skates dancing and performing with a partner in the 1940s. A man of many interests, he loved travel, coin collecting, rock hunting, photography, carpentry of furniture, building airplane and car models, and doing cross word puzzles daily.
John is pre-deceased by his parents John August Selinski and Elinor Marie Breed née Leinbaugh and four sisters Helena Richer, June M. DeBrucque, Matilda Foster, and Bernice Sellen. He is survived by his wife Doloris A. Sellen née Jones, children Kathleen A. Hennessy (Michael), Michele A. Shelton (James) of Colorado Springs, CO, Debra A. Henning (Jeffrey), John P. Sellen (Beatrice) of Lawton, OK, his brother Ernest L. Sellen (Joanne) of Manlius, NY, a sister Elizabeth Walker née Breed (Donald) of Baldwinsville, NY and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful to the entire staff of Dayspring of Enon for their loving kindness and excellent care during John's final days.
Visitation and memorial services will be at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3380 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 3:00-5:00pm. A Military Honor Guard will take place at 5:00pm. John will be cremated and inurned at the Dayton National Cemetery at the Veterans Administration at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.NewcomerDayton.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John August Sellen, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, October 18, 2018
3:00 - 5:00 pm (Eastern time)
Newcomer - Beavercreek Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 8
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