He prepared at Mercersburg Academy and followed his father, John Yates 1901, to Princeton. He was on the freshman cross country and wrestling squads, participated in Cane Spree, was a monitor and football usher, and joined Campus Club. He majored in economics and graduated cum laude.
During World War II, John was in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was attached to an amphibious force in the Pacific during the Makin Island invasion, and rose to the rank of lieutenant.
After passing a postwar CPA exam, John spent most of his career as a senior partner of Harry Ness and Co. of York, Pa., from 1947 until his retirement in 1999.
A believer in giving back to his community, John served on a number of boards and committees. One of the great loves of his life was fly-fishing, which led to his founding of the Rambo Run Fishing Club.
John is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Jean Gorman; three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Elaine, Phil and Natalie, and Dave and Lois; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters. His classmates extend their deepest sympathies to them all.