WEST BRANDYWINE, Pa. – John F. Scamman, 84, of West Brandywine, Pa., died on Jan. 26, at Freedom Village, after a long illness.

He was born in Phillips, on Dec. 27, 1922, the son of Henry and Dorothy (Norton) Scamman. A 1939 graduate of Phillips High School, he ran cross-country and was Salutatorian.

His World War II experience included serving as a ship fitter for “Liberty” ships at Todd Bath Ironworks, South Portland and as an electrician at the Navy Yard in Pearl Harbor from 1942 to 1944. In the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946, he repaired ships’ communications at Pearl Harbor.

A 1949 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, he ran cross-country, joined the Army ROTC and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering and physics. Commissioned a second lieutenant, he served in the Army Signal Corps Reserve until 1953.

He married Helen Somes on Jan. 21, 1951 in Lynn, Mass. He was an electrical engineer with General Electric Co. from 1950 to 1987, held five patents and consulted for five years following retirement. His hobbies were fishing, gardening and travel.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen (Somes) Scamman of West Brandywine, Pa.; a daughter, Carol Scamman of Nacogdoches, Texas; a son, Robert Scamman of The Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren, Eric Neuscamman and Karen and Peter Scamman; sisters, Louise Stacy and Anna Scamman of Farmington and Mariam Fenn of North Anson; brothers, Warren Scamman of Windsor, Mass., Allan Scamman of Strong and Lewis Scamman of Olympia, Wash.; and nieces and nephews.