John Edward Eberly

At age six, John moved with his family to Warren, PA. After graduating from Warren High School, John attended Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University), graduating in 1961, and Case Western University Law School, graduating in 1964. While in law school, John married Virginia Staley of Glenolden, PA. After graduating law school, John joined the United States Army. He served with the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion in Vietnam, rose to the rank of Captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star.

After his service, John returned to Warren to practice law. He and Virginia welcomed two children into their lives, Jae and Julie, before separating several years later. John continued working as an attorney in Warren until the early 1980’s, when he moved to Chattanooga, TN, and established a law practice. There, John met his current wife, Mary Margaret (Rogan) Eberly, also an attorney, and they married in 1988. They moved to Signal Mountain, TN, and practiced law together until their retirements. In 2022, John and Mary Margaret moved to Westminster Village in Dover, DE, to be near John’s son Jae. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to all the staff and residents of Westminster Village who made John and Mary Margaret feel welcomed and a part of the community.

Throughout his life, John was an active man. A competitive swimmer in college, John’s love of swimming continued throughout his life, and he enjoyed participating in Senior Games and Senior Olympics, as well as triathlons and other events. John was an active member of the YMCA in Warren and Chattanooga, and coached countless swimmers of all ages. John was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing for most of his life. He also loved his membership in and participation with the Signal Mountain Military History Roundtable. He and Mary Margaret were enthusiastic supporters of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics programs and members of the UTC Mocs Club.

John was preceded in death by his sister Anne, and his daughter Julie (2014).

John is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret; his brother James Eberly (Patricia King) of Warren; his son Jae and daughter-in-law RoseMarie and their family; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Alice Rogan and F. Heiskell Rogan, and their families.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 425 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, on the 19 day of October, 2024 at 1:00 pm, with a luncheon to follow. Interment will be at McKinney Cemetery, 110 W. Main Street, Rogersville, TN, 37857, with a graveside service arranged through Broome Funeral Home, 513 East Main Street, also in Rogersville, (423) 2728250, date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in John’s memory be made to Westminster Village, 191 Westminster Drive, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 744-3600; the Downtown Family YMCA, 301 W. 6th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402, (423) 266-3766; or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Mid South Chapter, 214 Overlook Circle, Suite 153, Brentwood, TN 37207 (615) 269-9055; or a charity of the donor’s choice.