Obituary of Jonathan Tyson Musser

Jonathan Tyson Musser, 85, died with Alzheimer's on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at home in Falls Church, VA.

Born November 17, 1938 in Harrisburg, PA, the son of Franklin Butler II and Elizabeth Tyson Musser, he was raised in Camp Hill where he was very active in sports.  It was a sad day for the Camp Hill High School basketball coach when Jon and his friend and teammate, Jay Cleveland, chose to attend The Manlius School, a military school in New York, his senior year where he participated in varsity football, basketball, and track.

Jon continued to compete in varsity basketball and track at Penn State University where, in 1961, he earned a degree in Hotel Administration. He belonged to the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity with fellow basketball player and friend, Mark DuMars.

Following college, Jon served two years in the Navy, managing the Officer's Club at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida and again playing basketball for the Naval Air Basic Training Command "Goshawks" basketball team (winner of the 6th Naval District and South Atlantic Region).  From 1962 to 1965, Jon continued to serve as a Reserve Officer in the Navy.

In the early 1970's, while working in real estate, Jon began attending Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD, and joined Ambassadors, the young adults group.  It was at that time that he came to a lifelong saving faith in Jesus.  Then, in 1976, Jon spotted Nancy at a Sunday evening Ambassadors meeting and married her the following August.

Jon was actively involved in the National Prayer Breakfast for over 40 years.  While attending Church of the Apostles, he and Nancy served together as home group leaders and prayer rail ministers.

Jon will most certainly be remembered for his love of humor and desire to make connections with those around him.  One friend commented on Jon's natural ability to affect the atmosphere of an entire room with his humor.  His reputation for hilarious skits is well established among many who knew him.  Always the entertainer, he thoroughly enjoyed making his children, nieces, nephews, and later, grandchildren, laugh at his antics.

Jon is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Frank.  Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Nancy, children: Rob (Rebecca), Andy (Erica), Katie (Jason) Yen, Charlie, eleven grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Marylou, and two nephews, Michael (Joan), and David (Tammy). 

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 6, at 2 p.m. at The Falls Church Anglican on Arlington Boulevard followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Falls Church Anglican Congregational Care Ministry.

Inurnment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD, at a later date.