Obituary of Col. John E. Devlin

DEVLIN - Col. John E., DDS, (U.S.A.F., ret.), 84, of Wilmington, N.C., formerly of Ebensburg, passed away Aug. 13, 2005, in Wilmington. Born in Jersey Shore, Pa., on Oct. 24, 1921, son of John H. and Ruth L. Devlin. John was preceded in death by parents and sister, Mary C. "Mimi" Devlin. Survived by widow, the former Lt. Col. Sara Ballard (U.S.A.F., ret.) of Wilmington; daughter, Jacqueline, wife of Dr. Paul Hardee, two grandsons and four great-grandchildren, all of San Antonio, Texas; and sister, Helen (Devlin) Smith of Ebensburg; nieces and nephews, Marcia Stager of Tyrone, Pa.; Greg Smith, Northern Cambria; and Dennis Smith and Claudia Kane, both of Ebensburg. John graduated in 1951 from University of Pittsburgh Dental School. After two years of private dental practice, Dr. Devlin returned to active duty as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps. He was promoted to colonel in 1968 and assigned as base dental surgeon at R.A.F. of Bentwaters/Woodbridge, England. Dr. Devlin was assigned at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., until he retired in 1981. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Andrews Mortuary, Wilmington. Interment followed in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, with military honor guard from the U.S. Air Force.