Obituary of John C. Greene

John C. Greene, age 97, passed away at The Saybrook at Haddam on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 where he had been a resident for the past three years. John was the beloved husband of Elizabeth A. "Betty" (Morley) Greene, they were married at Westover Field on October 21, 1944. Betty predeceased John on December 16, 2010. He was born on December 22, 1919 in Fall River, Massachusetts the son of John S. and Catherine (Harrington) Greene. Prior to being a resident of Haddam John had resided in Ivoryton for sixty-five years. He was a pharmaceutical sales representative and later District Manager for the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for over twenty-five years. He then began a career in Insurance Sales, first working at Connecticut General and then with The Scholes Agency in Essex retiring after fifteen years. He was a communicant at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex, former member and chairman of the Essex Board of Finance, serving on the board for over eighteen years, a member of the Essex Rotary Club, and a founding member of the Essex Ski Club. John was an avid reader, enjoyed home restoration and spending time in his vegetable garden. He proudly served his country during World War II as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force serving as a Navigator in the 8TH Airforce. In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, D-Day, John navigated one of the first Bombers to fly over Normandy. He successfully navigated a total of thirty-three missions. He was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal with Three Oak Clusters, and The European Theater Operations Ribbon with Three Campaign Stars. John had achieved the rank of Major at the time of his discharge. He leaves his children, John C. Greene, Jr. and his wife Kyong Sook, of Deep River, Richard Greene, of Ivoryton, Patricia Muggleston and her husband Robert, of Ivoryton, Elizabeth "Betsy" Greene, of Meriden, New Hampshire, and Margaret G. Metcalf and her husband Thomas, of Deep River. He also is survived by his six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at The Saybrook at Haddam for their professionalism, and the loving care that was given to John. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 14 Prospect Street in Essex. Burial with the Rendering of Military Honors will follow in the Resurrection Cemetery in Westbrook. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John's name to High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371. To share a memory of John or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.