John Wesley Messersmith

John Wesley Messersmith

York – John “Dr. Doo Wopp” Wesley Messersmith went home to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, May 16th from York Hospital.  He was born in York May 4, 1946 to the late Sterling Earl Messersmith and Mary Hazel (Everhart) Messersmith.

John cherished time spent with his two daughters Corey Lynne Gallagher and husband Glenn and Kelly Jo Lamison and husband Phil; grandchildren Kingston and Cash Gallagher and Evan, Joah and Jorja Lamison.  He leaves behind two brothers Jack and Joel Messersmith and sister Jane Bramhall, and former spouse Nancy (Bahn) Messersmith.  He was preceded in death by his brother, James and parents.  He was a true believer in love for his children, grandchildren, family, friends, music, camping and first and foremost his country.

John graduated high school in 1965 from West York Area High School.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-67 as a helicopter mechanic with the 117th Assault Helicopter Company where he aided in recovering wounded servicemen while maintaining and repairing Huey Helicoptors in Vietnam and was honorably discharged.  He retired from Caterpillar in Decatur, Illinois after the York closure where he served as Union Steward.

As popular and in demand, “Dr. Doo Wopp”, John enjoyed a successful pastime providing all genres of music for dances, weddings and parties through five decades, although doowop and soul music of the 50’s and 60’s was close to his heart.  He was a founding member of the musical group, The Stingrays in 1963 until he was drafted by the army and then a reenergized and reinvented Sting-Rays in the 2000’s.  He organized and established the York Lost and Found Record Review in the early 1980’s, an organization for devoted fans of doowop music which is still in existence today.  John was a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans Post 35, VFW West York Post 8951 and Shiloh American Legion Post 791.

A celebration of life for John will be held at Emig Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., 47 N. Queen St., Dover, PA and begin with visitation at 9:00 a.m. with a service to follow at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 23, 2022.  Burial will follow in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens with full military honors presented by the York County Veterans Honor Guard.

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