John J. "Jack" Sexton, 93, of Shallotte NC, formerly of Kiawah Island SC and Watchung NJ, died Friday at Hospice House of Brunswick.

Jack was born December 8, 1923, in East Orange, NJ, the son of the late Thomas C. Sexton and Margaret Drew Sexton. He was the husband of Phyllis Sexton (Seelbach). After graduating from West Orange High School in NJ in 1942, he joined the US Merchant Marine and served 5 years in all theaters of operation, on Army Transports, T-2 Tankers, Liberty and Victory ships. He graduated as a deck officer from OCS at Fort Trumbull, CT. He was awarded the Combat Bar with Star, and was a Life Member of the USMM Veterans of World War II.

While residing in the Watchung Mountains, NJ, Jack was employed by Merck, Exxon Research, and Thomas & Betts. He retired in 1989 as Sales Specialist, NYC. He served as Master of Atlas Masonic Lodge in 1970, was a member of Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. Jack was a Sunday School teacher at Wilson Memorial Union Church and a Watchung Little League coach. He was an active member of the Republican Party. Phyllis and Jack retired and moved to Kiawah Island, SC in 1989 and relocated to Rivers Edge Shallotte in 2003. During retirement Jack enjoyed tennis, golf, gardening, traveling the world, time with his family, and building blue bird houses, and homes for Purple Martins.

Surviving are his wife Phyllis M Sexton, a son Alan T. Sexton of Reisterstown MD, a daughter Linda M. Sexton of Waynesville NC, a brother Thomas P. Sexton of LeMoyne PA, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Mr. Sexton is predeceased by a son John T. Sexton of Hilton Head Island SC and a sister Dorothy Force (Sexton) of West Orange NJ.

The family plans a private celebration of Jack's life later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org