Joseph J. Sarabok

Joseph John Sarabok, 87, of Palmyra, passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at home with his loving family by his side. He was born Wednesday, February 10, 1926 in Lansford, PA to the late Vito and Pauline Sarabok. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Virginia “Ginny” E. (Derby) Sarabok.

He graduated from Lansford High School in 1944, played on the 1943 undefeated football team and was selected to the AP 1 ^st Team All State as a guard. He received a full scholarship to Penn State and was a member of the 1947 undefeated Cotton Bowl Football Team that played SMU to a 13-13 tie in Texas. He was a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Nittany Lion Club, Letterman Club, and Varsity S Club. He served in the US Navy, 1944-1946, during WWII aboard the USS Lloyd APD63, in the Pacific Combat area with eleven landings in the Philippine Islands before liberation. Following his loyal service to his country, Joe returned to Penn State to earn his BS degree.

He worked for Lederle Laboratories, division of American Cyanamid, in sales and management for 35 years as a senior pharmaceutical representative. He earned the Golden Oval Award given to the top 3 sales representatives out of 700 internationally. In addition, he won the Gold Cup Award seven times, given annually to the top 5% of international sales representatives.

He was a member and past president of Palmyra Rotary Club, where he received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. As a Rotarian, he was active in community projects including the annual pancake breakfast, fund raising for nine years, and coordinated the activities with the High School graduating class. He was a very active member of the Church of the Holy Spirit, served as lector, sang in the choir, served as financial advisor, co-chairman of the new CCD classroom building, was in charge of the Lenten fish fry for five years. He was the travel coordinator for the Hershey Areba Club for five years, arranging all facets of nine trips every year for senior citizens.

He is survived by three sons, Joseph J, Jr. of Huston, TX, Gregory D. of Mechanicsburg, and Jeffrey T. Sarabok of Gibsonia; two daughters, Gail Ann Belt of Bel Air, MD, and Ginger A. Sarabok of Quentin; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren; two brothers, Stephen of Boston, MA, and Michael Sarabok of Staten Island, NY.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 4 ^th at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 245 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 with Father James F. Podlesny as Celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Family and friends are invited for viewing on Thursday, October 3 ^rd from 6 to 8 PM at Rothermel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra and on Friday from 10 AM until the time of Mass at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Joseph J. Sarabok Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 840 East Main Street, Palmyra, PA 17078. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rothermelfuneralhome.com