John H. Meissner, 85, car dealer

John H. Meissner, 85, of Glen Mills, founder and owner of car dealerships in Philadelphia and Delaware County, died of lung cancer Monday, July 5, at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Mr. Meissner graduated from high school there and entered the Navy in 1943.

His son David said Mr. Meissner had been an aide to the captain of the ammunition ship Nitro, which saw action off the Philippines, Guam, Iwo Jima, and Saipan, as well as in the Atlantic.

In 1975, Mr. Meissner retired from the Naval Reserve after 32 years of active and reserve duty.

His first civilian career began in 1958 at Pine Belt Chevrolet in Lakewood, N.J., his son said. He left as general manager in 1978.

Mr. Meissner, wife Mary Louise, and their two sons then founded Meissner Chevrolet in Glenolden. In 1990, they moved the firm to 70th Street and Essington Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. By 1992, it was Meissner Chevrolet/GEO/Oldsmobile.

In 2008, the family sold the Philadelphia firm but continued to operate Meissner Auto Sales in Glenolden, where Mr. Meissner was president at his death.

He and his wife each had earned a pilot's license, and each owned a twin-engine airplane that, their son said, they flew on vacations to Florida and the West Coast.

Mr. Meissner was a member of the board of directors of the Auto Trade Association-Pennsylvania, the GMAC Dealer Council-Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Automotive Association.

He was a member of the GM National Dealer Council's Pennsylvania Zone, the National Automobile Dealers Association's Dealers Election Action Committee President's Club, and the National Automobile Dealers' Executive 20 Group Chevrolet.

Mr. Meissner was a Mason, an Elk, a member of the Rotary Club for 29 years, and a member of the Springhaven Club in Wallingford for 20 years.

Besides son David, Mr. Meissner is survived by son Douglas, three sisters, and five grandchildren. His wife died in 2002.

Visitation was set from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 9, at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, Norwood, and after 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 10, at Princeton Presbyterian Church, 933 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Delaware County, where a funeral will begin at 11. Entombment is to be in the Monticello Mausoleum at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, with a military ceremony.