Brother John Lein
Maryland, he was one of eight children in the family of George and Frances Lein. He attended
Baltimore County Public Schools and in 1951, he graduated from Kenwood High School where he
excelled in several sports including baseball and soccer.
In 1953, John married Gloria Lee Kroner and later that same year, he was drafted into the US Army
where he spent two years during the Korean conflict.
After his discharge from the Army, he joined the Baltimore County Police Department on May 8, 1956.
In early 1961 the Department instituted its first ever system of written examinations for promotion. Mr.
Lein participated in the first exam given, and in competition with several hundred other officers, he
placed No. 1 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. From then on, he was promoted in rapid
succession until, in 1971, at the age of 38, he became the youngest person ever, at that time, to hold
the rank of Major in the Baltimore County Police Department. Then again, in 1975, he was promoted
and became the youngest Colonel in the Department at the age of 42. While employed with the
Department, he also found time to further his education, attending Essex Community College earning
a degree in Law Enforcement. Retiring from the Police Department in 1977 after 21 years of service,
Mr. Lein worked at The Greater Baltimore Medical Center for 10 years employed as the Director of
Safety and Security.
Mr. Lein was a member of Mt. Nebo Masonic Lodge for over 50 years and belonged to the Scottish
Rite. He held life membership in the Maryland Law Enforcement Officers Association and the
Baltimore County Retired Officers Association. Mr. and Mrs. Lein were long-time members of Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Joppa, Md.
Mr. Lein is survived by his wife Gloria of 70 years and their two daughters, Debi and Bonnie; Bonnie’s
fiancé Ron; six grandchildren, Kellie, Travis, Katie, Stephenie, Lannie and Kristen; and 12 great-
grandchildren, Bradley, Branden, Braeden, Mollie, Carter, Cali, Chase, Chloe, Mattison, Travis Jr.,
David and Justin. Although he enjoyed every day of his retirement years, Mr. Lein often said that he
was most proud of his family and never happier than when he was spending time with them.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Lein was predeceased by his siblings, William Lein, Dorothy Lombardi,
Frances Stem, George Lein, Elizabeth Bethke, Violet Brawner and Ann Arnold.
Visitation will be held at McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Abingdon, Maryland on Wednesday May 8,
2024, 2 – 4 & 7 –9 pm. Services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at McComas Funeral Home
Abingdon, Maryland at 10:00 am. Entombment will take place in Holly Hills Memorial Gardens.
Those who desire can contribute to: Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 3551 North Broad Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19140 or, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.
To send flowers to the family in memory of John B. Lein, please visit our flower store.
