John L. Wirth

John Lewis Wirth of Middletown, Delaware died at the age of 64 on April 3, 2017, at his home after losing a battle with a rare form of cancer.

John was born on March 24, 1953, in San Rafael, California to Marilyn and Lewis Wirth. Lewis was a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and a decorated veteran of the Korean War. Following Lewis' death in 1953, Marilyn remarried Henry Coudon, and the family moved to Havre de Grace, Maryland in 1955. John's four younger brothers—Joe, Jeff, Jim, and Jerry—were born to Marilyn and Henry while they lived in Havre de Grace.

John attended Saint Patrick's Parochial School of Havre de Grace for his primary education. It was here that his academic giftedness was first formally recognized, as the school staff elected to doubly promote him. He pursued his secondary education at John Carroll High School of Bel Air, Maryland, graduating as a member of the Class of 1970. At John Carroll HS, John participated in soccer and varsity tennis, and at the age of 16 he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement awarded by the Boy Scouts of America.

The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana was John's home for the next six years as he obtained dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering and Geology and a Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering. During his time at Notre Dame, John played goalie for the school's club soccer team and first began what would become longstanding interests in coaching youth sports and playing golf.

Throughout high school and college, another lifelong love was materializing for John. John and Irene first met during their sophomore year at John Carroll and later shared some classes during their junior and senior years. They attended the Senior Prom together and by graduation, the two were exclusively dating. On August 10, 1974, John and Irene were married in what he described as "the best decision I ever made."
After leaving South Bend in July 1976, John and Irene returned to Maryland, and John took his first professional job in civil engineering at The Robert B. Balter Company of Owings Mills. In 1978, John was hired by Rummel Klepper & Kahl of Baltimore. Here, he served as the project geotechnical engineer for the Baltimore subway and was involved in parts of the Fort McHenry Tunnel project and the design of highways and bridges in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

John's engineering expertise earned him the opportunity to launch a new firm, Geo-Technology Associates of Bel Air, Maryland, in 1985. As company president, John spent countless hours ensuring the company's success. Upon his retirement in 2000, GTA had expanded to 60 employees with several offices throughout Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
During these years of career growth, John and Irene's family grew as well with the births of their children Tom, Katie, and Carrie. In 1986, the five moved from Reisterstown to Fallston, Maryland, where John's community involvement flourished. Over the years, John coached over 30 different teams, impacting hundreds of youth participants in softball, basketball, football, and field hockey. He also served on the Fallston Recreation Council Board and as the Fallston Recreation Softball Commissioner. While his children attended Fallston High School, he took on the role of Cougar Boosters President.

Retirement, an empty nest, and the lure of year-round golf led John and Irene south, moving to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2005. John continued to merge his professional expertise and heart for volunteering by serving on his community's homeowners' association board and as the chairman of the community's architectural review board. In 2011, John and Irene moved to Powhatan, Virginia, and in 2014 to Middletown, Delaware to be closer to family.

Throughout his life, a defining characteristic of John was his constant pursuit of learning, aided by his exceptional intellect. He was an avid student of the Civil War, a self-taught savvy financial investor, a proficient card player, and a worldwide traveler. His journeys took him to six continents, 40 countries, and 50 states and were notable for fast-paced itineraries in an effort to experience as much as possible with each opportunity. In his retirement, John continued professional consulting with clients such as the Army Corps of Engineers and national contractors.

John is survived by his wife Irene Wirth of Middletown; his children Tom (Monica) Wirth of Fallston, Katie (Mike) Tagliaferri of Forest Hill, and Carrie (Sam) Almengor of Fallston; four grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren. Also surviving him are his mother Marilyn Coudon and step-father Henry Coudon of Bel Air; his brothers Joe Coudon of Gainesville, Georgia, Jeff Coudon of Havre de Grace, Jim Coudon of Bel Air, and Jerry Coudon of Fallston; and many other beloved family members. John's father, Lewis Wirth, died in 1953.

A visitation will be held at McComas Funeral Home in Bel Air, Maryland on Thursday, April 6 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Mark Roman Catholic Church in Fallston, Maryland with a brief luncheon to follow at the parish center.

To best reflect John's commitment to community involvement, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his honor to Saint Mark Church to benefit their outreach programs.