Col. John Robert Dopler, USMC (Retired), died June 8, in his Fearrington Village home.

Born Nov. 3, 1929, in East Liverpool, Ohio, Col. Dopler was the son of Harold E. Dopler and Anncille Minerva McDaniel Dopler. He received his degree in accounting and finance from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1951. Col. Dopler enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, served in Vietnam and retired as a Colonel as head of the Disbursing Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps. He then went into civil service in Pay and Entitlements with the U.S. Coast Guard.

John was a member of Horological Society of Virginia, and served as a tour guide at Pope-Leighey House, a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Alexandria, Va. He was a construction volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a member of the Pittsboro Kiwanis Club and was also involved in Masonry for more than 50 years, where he was a 32 degree Mason, a Sojurner, member of Scottish Rite, and a Sudan Shriner.

John also enjoyed gardening, clock repair, golfing, and traveling with his family to the mountains.

Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Janet Maxine Fleming Dopler; son and daughter-in-law, John Charles Dopler and April Leigh Layne-Dopler of Raleigh; a grandson, John Nikolas Dopler; several cousins and other extended family members.

A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held at the Gathering Place in Fearrington Village on Thursday, June 18, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Mindy Adams and Rev. Peter Thomas presiding. Masonic rites will also be observed. Col. Dopler's remains will rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, 212 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514; Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org); or Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research (www.lustgarten.org).

Arrangements are by Hall-Wynne Funeral Service & Cremation in Pittsboro.