John Franklin Bassford
1938-2023
John Franklin Bassford, age 85, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at his home.
Born June 18, 1938 in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of the late Samuel Franklin and Lillian Louise Holbrook Bassford.
He was a graduate of Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School and attended college at Baltimore Community College.
John served with the United States Navy from January 14, 1957 until his honorable discharge January 13, 1961 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.
He retired as a machinist with General Electric after 25 years of service.
John was a member of Deford Lodge #88 A.F. & A.M. in Berkeley Springs, a 32nd Degree Scottish Right KYCH Valley of Martinsburg, Royal Arch Mason Warm Springs Chapter #53, Tall Cedars of Lebanon Forest #150 and Ali Ghan Shrine in Cumberland, Md., where he transported children and their families to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa.
John was a Civil War reenactor. He loved going to auctions and enjoyed playing softball and golf.
John is survived by his children, Joan Sperlein and her husband, William Breighner of Spring Grove, Pa., Virginia Vogt and her husband, Keith of Bel Air, Md., D. Gill Sperlein, Jr. of San Francisco, Calif., John F. Bassford, Jr. and his wife Lynn of Severn, Md. and Ruth Bassford and her husband, Douglas Hebden of Reisterstown, Md., five grandchildren, Elizabeth Kardos, Benjamin Kardos, Kristine Vogt, Luke Bassford and Maxwell Bassford and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Cecelia Enders Bassford and two sisters, Barbara Carter and Beatrice Hannahs.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023 at Parkwood Cemetery, 3310 Taylor Avenue, Parkville, Md. The family received friends from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. A second visitation will be at Evans Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, 8800 Harford Road, Parkville, Md. from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
