Tenth Generation

9503. John Harold Skillman was born on 8 October 1927 in Norwich, Chenango, NY. He served in the military between 1944 and 1947 in U.S. Army. Served in the Philippines 1944-47.

He reenlisted 7/18/1946 at HOLABIRD SIGNAL DEPOT, BALTIMORE MARYLAND for one year. He was a Private First Class. He received a B.A. degree in 1949 at Syracuse Univ. in Syracuse, Onondaga, NY. John received a M.A. degree in 1950 at Syracuse Univ. in Syracuse, Onondaga, NY. From 1951 to 1972 he was a professor of comparative education at Aoyama Gukuin Univ. of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan. "Skillman learned Japanese in the U.S. Army during World War II and in 1951 was sent to Tokyo as a United Methodist missionary serving Harajuku Church." (from obit) He received a Ph.D. degree in 1958 at Syracuse Univ. in Syracuse, Onondaga, NY. Thesis: A Study of the Relationship between Participation in Various
Types of Extra-Class Activities and Academic Performance in Three Private Japanese Secondary Schools From 1972 to 1994 John was an Asia executive at theCouncil on International Educational Exchange in New York. He died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on 20 May 2008 at the age of 80 in Silver Spring, Montgomery, MD. Obituary: John Harold Skillman

John Harold Skillman, who served as a missionary and educator in Japan for two decades, died at the age of 80 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease in Silver Springs, Maryland, on May 20, his family said.

Skillman learned Japanese in the U.S. Army during World War II and in 1951 was sent to Tokyo as a United Methodist missionary serving Harajuku Church.

He received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University and served as a professor of comparative education at Aoyma Gakuin University in Tokyo for 21 years until 1972, when he returned to the United States. He also contributed to English publications by the Japan Council of Churches.

Skillman was the Asia executive for the Council on International Educational Exchange in New York from 1972 to 1994 and contributed to the development of exchange programs in China and Vietnam.

Skillman was born in Norwich, New York; He had five children and eight grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held at Riderwood in Silver Spring on June 21, to be followed by a private burial the following week. A memorial service is to held in Tokyo at Harajuku Church at a date yet to be decided. He was a Methodist. John was a teacher. He was an educational exchange executive. Missionaries in Japan 1951-1972
Who's Who in Am. Educ. 3rd, 4th eds.
Who's Who in the East, 23, 24, 25 eds.
Who's Who in the World, 11th ed.

Verlie Anne McKenzie (private).

John Harold Skillman-245 and Verlie Anne McKenzie-11870 had the following children: