U.S. Marine veteran, longtime Lebanon Toys for Tots coordinator dies at age 82

John E. Gingrich Sr. of Lebanon was a man of commitment who believed deeply in community service. 

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, which he told people instilled in him those values. After exiting the military, he became involved with the Lebanon County chapter of Toys for Tots 40 years ago, serving for more than 30 years as its coordinator.

Gingrich’s lifelong ties to community service ended with his death on April 18 at age 82. But the legacies he forged while alive – and one created in his memory after his death – will live on for years to come.

Commitment to community service

Gingrich launched the Lebanon County chapter of Toys for Tots in 1982 and served as chairman until his passing.

“He went from mostly fixing used toys to building a reputation within Lebanon County so that most of the donations, 99 percent of the donations, are now new toys,” said son David – all while creating Christmas memories in the Lebanon Valley. In 2024 alone, the local program brightened the holidays for thousands of children and their families, David said.

“This past year we helped over 900 families that signed up … so almost 3,500 children just this past year,” he said. “Multiply that by … 42 years, and you can see that he’s helped a lot of families and a lot of children.”

The program’s annual work typically begins in October for each holiday season, but John worked year-round for Toys for Tots while his health permitted him to do so. 

David said his father spent time fixing bicycles to give to those who needed them come Christmas. He also got families and students in several local school districts to volunteer their time during the holiday season. 

“He was big on having families participate and volunteering to help. He loved how families got together during that time and helped put stuff together, bag the toys, sort the toys, go pick stuff up, whatever,” David said. “It was that way with my family and my brothers and sister. It became a family thing.”

John’s legacy with the local chapter of Toys for Tots will continue into the future, as his family has decided to honor his community service by taking on roles in the program. David said he will serve as chairman of the Lebanon County chapter.

“It’s gonna keep going because I’m going to keep it running, I’m gonna take over,” he said. “I’ve been helping in the last couple years because of his health but I’m not letting it go. This is his legacy and we’re gonna keep it going as long as we can. I don’t know if I’ll be able to fill his shoes, but I’m gonna do my damnedest.”

David feels that’s the least the family can do to honor their father, who built a reputation locally by being a man of his word concerning the charitable cause.

“The big thing about Toys for Tots, and the big thing my dad always mentioned to every business, big or small, that helped collect toys is 100 percent of the money and toys that we collect in Lebanon County stays in Lebanon County,” David said. “So every dime that we get here goes back into Lebanon County’s Toys for Tots program.”

Commitment to country

David said his father adopted many values during his service in the Marine Corps, and he raised his four children to embrace those values. All but one of the four Gingrich siblings served in the military, with one opting out due to a health concern.

“He was such a strong influence in my life. I went into the marine corps because he was in the marine corps. I saw what they were all about,” said David, who served four years and was a Lebanon city police officer for 30 years. “Why did we serve? We want to give back to the community. We were all military-minded and we wanted to serve. That’s something you just can’t turn off.” 

John was 17 when he entered into service with the Marine Corp on Sept. 28, 1959. He would end his time of service Sept. 27, 1965, as corporal (E-4), earning several meritorious medals. 

His dedication to the military didn’t end there. 

In 1980, John again entered the service with the U.S. Air Force Reserve, 201st Red Horse Squadron, at Fort Indiantown Gap, working as a heavy equipment operator and trainer as a member of the rapid deployment, self-supporting construction team.

Among his tasks were working with airfield runway construction, with a primary focus on maintenance work. He retired from Red Horse as a master sergeant in 2002, aging out when he turned 60. 

Commitment to family

John and wife Beverly were married on April 10, 1962, and remained together for 63 years. They marked their anniversary shortly before John’s passing. 

Beverly was John’s Toys for Tots secretary and assistant, David said, working by his side to ensure gifts were under the tree for Lebanon County’s youth on Christmas Day. 

“They were married 63 years, and that’s because they loved and supported each other no matter what. And unfortunately people don’t do that anymore,” David said. “If they get into a little bit of a hard time, you know, people want to just move away or back off. My parents understood that sometimes it’s not always easy, but it’s the love that you have for each other that keeps it going. And they definitely did love each other.”

Commitment to a new legacy

John spent the last week of his life in the intensive care unit at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, where David said he received outstanding care. 

Following the family’s decision to honor John’s “do not resuscitate” wishes, David’s niece, Kaleah Gingrich, mentioned to hospital staff that Lebanon’s VA Hospital pays respect to those who have passed with an honor guard.

In three hours, an impromptu honor guard was assembled to commemorate a man who gave so much and asked for nothing in return as his body was moved from the hospital to the funeral home. 

“The manager’s like, ‘That’s a great idea. Let me see what I can do,’” recalled David. “And she was on a mission. She made phone calls. She had two Marines in dress blues. She had two guys from the local motorcycle club, the military motorcycle club, to help present the honors. It was all the doctors and nurses and the hospital staff that lined up there. It was amazing.”

Bonnie Connor, a nursing manager at Good Samaritan, helped ensure the family’s wishes were honored. The fact that the hospital only has an honor guard for nurses who pass, Connor and her team were left with a tall order to fill in a short amount of time.

“On Thursday, we had a family meeting and the family decided on Thursday that they were going to withdraw him from the ventilator on Thursday, so on Friday morning that person asked if we do an honor guard here,” Connor said. “She had reached out to the VA and they unfortunately weren’t able to come. … I made calls to all of the local VFWs, all of the local American Legions and was unsuccessful with all of those attempts.”

A call to the local marine recruiter and a contact at the hospital finally yielded results, with several people playing a part in making the honor guard a reality.

WellSpan case manager Bridget Meyer reached out to the Marine Corp League of PA in Jonestown, who sent a chaplain. The case management team provided mini flags for the walk. Nichole Wells, nurse manager of SRMC Lebanon, contacted military friends.

Mike Worhach and Matthew Dohner stood guard until the family was ready to leave the room and had an American flag that was placed over the litter as John left the unit. Registered nurse Jennifer Krizan-Filler reached out to family members to assist with leads to contact veterans, while Carly Bazow, assistant nurse manager in ICU, supported the efforts by placing calls.

The Marine unit that came to the military honor walk was Echo Company (2nd Battalion and 25th Marines). Sgt. Gaetano Calafatti and Staff Sgt. Eleazar Olivia participated in the tribute.

“He put me in touch with two reserve officers who came in full blue marine uniform,” added Connor. “The two gentlemen who had served in the military brought an American flag that was flown in Afghanistan and they stood guard while we prepared the body to leave the ICU.”

Connor said all who had lined the hallway, including available hospital staff and the family, were moved at that moment. Small hand-held American flags were distributed to about 40 individuals who lined the hallway to honor John.

“All of my team really strives to do the right thing, not for recognition, but to do the right thing to make a memorable patient experience,” said Connor about why they made the tribute happen in a three-hour window. “This was super impactful, not only to the family members but every employee who stood in that line in the honor walk. There really weren’t that many dry eyes.”

From this experience, the hospital is planning to incorporate an honor walk for any veteran who dies there. Connor said while some internal protocols still have to be met with the hospital administration, the John E. Gingrich Sr. Honor Walk will memorialize all veterans whose journey ends at the hospital.

“I would say that everyone who was involved and participated that day is very engaged in making this a normal process,” Connor said. “Because it was so impactful to me, I said to the family I would really like to continue this and name it after Mr. Gingrich.”

David said the family was touched by the request to continue an honor guard in John’s memory.

“My niece could have asked and they could have said, ‘No, we don’t know if we can do that,’” David said. “But they went above and beyond, they were really on a mission to honor him. It was amazing, touching. You had to see it. It was emotional, very touching, a great honor for a great veteran. It’s another thing to add to his legacy.”