John William Sullivan, 85, of Southern Pines, passed Friday, January 29, 2010 at Pinehurst Health Care & Rehabilitation Center.

 Mr. Sullivan was born September 22, 1924 to the late Florence Patrick Sullivan and Anna Marie Gallager Sullivan in Buffalo, NY.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony’s of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Southern Pines on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 2PM with the Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey A. Ingham officiating. Military honors will be rendered after the service.

 Mr. Sullivan was a veteran of WWII in the Merchant Marine and was wounded during that time in Bari, Italy. He was a 4th degree member of The Knights of Columbus. He retired from the Dana Corporation in 1983 after twenty nine years of service making Southern Pines his home. He expressed a strong love for Southern Pines often saying “Southern Pines is just a few Blocks from Heaven” .

Mr. Sullivan is survived by his wife of sixty two years, Harriett Mary Leavy Sullivan, Four sons, John “Mike” Sullivan of Hampstead, NH., Edward Sullivan of White City, OR., James Sullivan of Lansing, MI., and Thomas Sullivan of Burien, WA., Two daughters, Sissy Peterman of Seattle, WA., and Sue Daniels of Bridgewater, MA., A sister, Mary Theresa Alico of Orchard Park, NY., Six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Mr. Sullivan was preceded in death by a brother Patrick “Joe” Sullivan and a sister Kathryn Sullivan.

A short vigil will be held Tuesday February 2, 2010 at 7:00PM with visitation to follow from 7:15 to 9PM at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines.

 Memorial donations can be made in memory of Mr. John Sullivan at The Pope John Paul II Catholic School, 320 North Ashe Street Southern Pines, NC 28387.

On line condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pine