Johnny E. L. Lauchnor, 93, of Zionsville, PA, died October 25, 2008 at Independence Court, Quakertown. Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Clinton and Katie (Hausman) Lauchnor. He was the husband of the late Eva Caroline (Conrad) Lauchnor.
Johnny worked as a custom machinery builder for the former C & D Battery in East Greenville for 11 years before he retired in 1980. Prior to that he worked at Loma Machine in Alburtis also as a custom machine builder. During World War II he worked for Mack Trucks in Allentown. He started his working life at the former Macungie Silk Mill, which is now Allen Organ.
Between 1948 and 1949 Johnny and his friends and relatives hand built the house that he and his wife lived in for 54 years. The concrete was mixed one wheel barrow at a time and used for walks and the basement floor. Johnny laid all of the cinder blocks for the basement walls himself. He lived in that house until 1983.
During the 1950's he started teaching Sunday School at Longswamp Union Church. In 1969 he transferred to Zion's Lutheran Church in Old Zionsville and taught Sunday School there for over 40 years. He was a Lay Assistant at the Zion's Lutheran Church for 21 years and, as such, presided over Sunday services many times. Copies of all of his sermons, prayers, and Sunday School lessons have been preserved. In addition, he conducted services once a week at the Phoebe Home in Allentown for 11 years. He was chaplain for the Macungie Seniors and the Macungie Fire Company for 20 years. For 2 years he conducted chapel services on the radio at the Topton Lutheran Home. He was asked to conduct the service and offer the sermon in 1991 at Grace Lutheran Church in Macungie. He was confirmed in that church in 1929. He also assisted with Sermon In Song with his granddaughter Sally in churches including Pennsburg United Church of Christ.
Johnny's hobby was crocheting. He made more than 350 wall hangings and rugs and gave them all away to churches, friends, fire companies, and various organizations. The largest wall hanging he ever made was a 9' by 16' depiction of the Lord's Prayer which was given the the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Museum. This project took over 140,000 stitches in 16 colors, with over 100 skeins of 4 oz. yarn. It was started on July 14, 1989 and completed on December 9, 1989.
Johnny is survived by a son Clifford Charles Lauchnor and his wife Jackie of East Greenville; grandchildren Sally Ann Dougherty and Timothy John Lauchnor; and great grandchildren Kelly Nicole Dougherty, Daniel Vincent Dougherty, and Lucas Merlin Lauchnor. He was preceded in death by brothers Robert and William; Step brother Charles Ellis; and Step sister Daisey Conrath.
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Married Sept. 12, 1936
Family Members
Spouse
Eva Conrad Lauchnor
1917–2002
