John P. O'Brien Jr.

Lt. Colonel (Retired) John P. O’Brien, Jr., 94, of Lakewood died at home on October 7, 2011. Colonel O’Brien was born in New York City and graduated from the Textile High School there in 1933. He enlisted in the US Army in 1936 and ultimately was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after completing Officer Candidate School at Ft. Monmouth in 1942. Colonel O’Brien served during WWII in Central Europe, in Korea and in Taiwan during the time of the Vietnam War. During his career, he was posted to various U.S. Bases in California, Utah, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as three years in Orleans, France and one year in Poitiers, France. Upon retirement from the US Army, he entered Federal Civil Service as an Inspector General at Ft. Monmouth. Colonel O’Brien is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Eleanor E. O’Brien (nee Lowden) in 2006. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Russ of Hendersonville, North Carolina; two daughters, Patricia O’Brien of Brick, Nancy Lawton of Lambertville and her husband Bud Lawton; a grandson Brian Lawton of Ewing and his wife Crystal Lawton; as well as two great grandsons, Nathan and Travis Lawton of Ewing.

Internment will be at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colonel O’Brien’s name to the USO.