John Bohannon, 76, salesman, folksinger
John Bohannon, 76, formerly of Springfield, Delaware County, a retired salesman and singer with an Irish folk band, died of prostate cancer Monday at his son Michael's home in West Chester.
John Bohannon, 76, formerly of Springfield, Delaware County, a retired salesman and singer with an Irish folk band, died of prostate cancer Monday at his son Michael's home in West Chester.
From 1976 until 2005, Mr. Bohannon sang and played bass with Irish Mist. The band performed in local bars and restaurants, including O'Hara's Dining Saloon and Smokey Joe's in West Philadelphia, Toland's in Norristown, and Fiddler's Green in King of Prussia.
"We were the musicians. He was the singer and entertainer and told the corny jokes," said his son John, a guitarist with the band.
Growing up in West Philadelphia, Mr. Bohannon was a featured singer in the St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church Choir and sang with the choir on national radio.
He quarterbacked the West Catholic High School football team. After graduating, he served in the Navy in the Caribbean.
Mr. Bohannon was an award-winning salesman and sales manager for Oscar Mayer for 20 years. He was later a salesman for CDC Food Brokerage Co. before retiring in the late 1980s.
He and his wife, Margaret McNeila Bohannon, welcomed their five children's friends into their homes, their son John said.
"I would have eight to 12 friends over for Monday Night Football. When I went away to college, they continued to show up," he said. In 1987, the friends treated Mr. Bohannon to Phillies Dream Week in Clearwater, Fla.
Mr. Bohannon was a caregiver to his wife, who has struggled with Parkinson's disease for 15 years.
In addition to his wife of 57 years and sons, he is survived by daughters MaryAnn Gillette, Suzanne McCabe, and Megan McConlogue; four brothers; three sisters; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Friends may call from 6 to 9 tonight and from 9 to 10 a.m. tomorrow at O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 651 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.