UNION CITY — John Richard Sutter Jr., 78, of Union City, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in his sleep at home after a long battle with lung cancer.

He was born July 30, 1930, in Cambridge Springs, a son of the late John R. and Mildred Record Sutter.

John grew up in the Blooming Valley-Meadville area prior to his parents’ buying a farm in Bloomfield Township on the blacktop between Little Cooley and Lincolnville. He graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1948 and worked at G.E. until his dad had a heart attack and he came home to work with his dad. After his dad died, he and his mother were partners.

In addition to the dairy farm, John drove school bus, worked part time for the ASCS Office in Meadville, sold sweet corn at the road and delivered government food in the township, and was a Bloomfield Township supervisor.

When he retired, he worked at Ballog’s Potato Farm for a few years, then moved to Union City and worked part-time at Young Hardware Store and helped in the kitchen at the fire hall.

John enjoyed hunting, camping and lots of company. Dearest to his heart was his church, Lincolnville Baptist Church, where he was proud to think that maybe he was the oldest living member.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his stepson, Michael Dale Van Riper.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Virginia (Ginger) Lord Van Riper Sutter; a sister, Ellen Young and her husband, Marshal, of Union City; a son, Rex Brown and his wife, Irene, and their son and daughter, David and June, of Victorville, Calif.; son, John Sutter and his wife, Angie, and their daughter, Jennifer, of San Antonio, Texas; grandsons, Mathew Fera and his wife, Lindsey, and their son and daughter, Lucas and Laura, of Erie, Ray Fera III of Kansas City, Mo.; a niece, Kevin Ann Smith and her husband, John, and their sons, Adam and Joseph, of Townville; nephews, Richard Young and his wife, Judy, and daughter, Amelia, of Pittsburgh, Alan Young and daughter, Annie, of Saegertown, Ken Lord and his wife, Valerie, and their sons, Joshua and Benjamin, of Meadville; Tom Lord and his wife, Phyliss, and son, Parker, of Meadville; and dearest friends, Warren and Marie Walborn of Lincolnville, Ray and Violet Fera of Harlingen, Texas, and Dalton and Ruthie Bond of Townville.

Friends are invited to call at Glenn Funeral Home, 62 S. Main St., Union City, today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and attend the funeral at Lincolnville Baptist Church on Saturday at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Bill Cox officiating.

Burial will be in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville.