Jon Daniel Papps of Salem, age 90, died on Sunday, December 20, 2020 while in rehab at Advinia Care.

Born on January 22, 1930 in Morristown, NJ, oldest son of George H. Papps Jr and Elizabeth (Verschuur) DuBois. He attended St Thomas Choir School in NYC, Morristown High School and graduated from Upsala College in East Orange, NJ after serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, 1950-1954.

After moving with his first wife, Diane Tonak, and children to South Carolina and Severna Park, MD he moved to Marblehead, MA in 1968 where he worked for Hood Manufacturing, making sailcloth for boats. When Hood no longer produced their own cloth he went to work for Howe and Bainbridge, sailcloth makers in Boston, before establishing his own business out of his home. He began making sail tape for sailmakers, a business which thrived for over 30 years before he retired in 2014 and moved to Salem.

While living in Marblehead Jon was very involved in the sailing community where he and his wife, Deborah, owned several sailboats over the years. He also had been a member of the vestry of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where he was instrumental in the installation of a new organ.

Jon leaves his wife of 32 years, Deborah (Collins) Papps; two sons, Jon C. Papps (Diane) of Simpsonville, SC and Jeffrey G. Papps of St. Augustine, FL; 3 step-children, Robert Duff of North Conway, NH, Allison Duff (Alan Barth) of Salem, and Stephen Duff (Michele) of Philadelphia, PA; his sister-in-law Elizabeth Papps of PA; his cousin, Carol Wetmore of NJ; two nieces, 3 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, G. Oliver Papps.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions a church memorial service at Grace Episcopal Church in Salem will hopefully be held in the months to come and burial will be in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. Murphy Funeral Home, Salem is in charge of the arrangements. Gifts in memory of Jon can be made to the Organ Fund, Grace Church in Salem, 385 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970. For more information or online guestbook please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.murphyfuneralhome.com .