John Joseph Horvath Sr, 83, formerly of Lincoln Drive, Wallingford, departed this life surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at the Masonic Health Care Center after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband of Genevieve Rose (Jasinski) Horvath for 59 years. John was born in Wallingford, May 23, 1924, the son of the late Anthony and Anna (Lasko) Horvath. He attended local schools. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy and served three years in the American, European, Asiatic and Pacific theaters. He earned the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Victory Medal. In 1946 he received his Lyman Hall High School degree under the GI Plan and attended Laurel and Stone Business Colleges. He established a local Insurance and Real Estate business in 1946. He was an active member of Sts Peter & Paul RC Church. He was active in Wallingford Rotary serving as President, and being honored as Rotarian of the Year and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Board of Directors for the Wallingford Bank and Trust Company and was Chairman of the Associate Board of the Connecticut Bank and Trust of Wallingford. He was also head of fundraising campaigns for the Boy Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society. He served as President of the Wallingford Board of Independent Insurance Agents. He was a charter member of the American Legion, John M Siedlicki Post 187. He was a lifetime member of the Wallingford Country Club, an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus Pinta Council #5 and a member of VFW Post 591. Besides being an avid golfer, he enjoyed fishing and gardening. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Wooster 2 at the Masonic Health Care Center and the CT VNA Hospice staff for their tender loving care. He will be sadly missed by his wife and their children, Anne Miller and her husband, Mark of Cheshire, Joan Daft and her husband, Fred of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.; a sister, Ethel Novak and her husband, Stanley of Wallingford; three grandchildren, Tim Miller and his wife, Holly of Thornton, Colo., Laura Mathews and her husband, Travis of Firestone, Colo. and Joe Daft of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.; and three great-grandchildren, Logan Mathews, Kelsey Rose Mathews, and Aspen Miller; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, John J. Horvath Jr. As John requested, there are no calling hours. Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, August 9th at 10 a.m. at Sts Peter and Paul RC Church, 127 North Orchard St, Wallingford, CT. Burial will be private. Gifts in his memory may be made to Sts Peter and Paul RC Church. The BC Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm St., Wallingford is in charge of arrangements.