Teenage Lifeguard Dies On Duty In Delaware County

FOLCROFT, PA — The Folcroft Borough and Southeast Delco School District communities are in mourning after a local teenager's untimely death.

Ethan Joner, 15, died on July 13 while working as a lifeguard at the Folcroft Swim Club, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

His cause of death has not been revealed.

Joner was set to be a sophomore at Academy Park High School in the fall and was a lifeguard at the Folcroft Swim Club.

According to Joner's obituary, his is survived by his parents Peter Joner and Leigh Daly Joner; siblings Morgan, Cassidy, and Brady Joner; as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, and more.

Joner's mother, Leigh Daly Joner, is vice president of the Folcroft Borough Council and is on the club's board.

A viewing will be held on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at Griffith Funeral Chapel in Norwood.

His Funeral Service will be at noon Friday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Norwood.

Attendees are invited to wear their favorite team colors and jerseys to all services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ethan Joner Memorial Fund, PO Box 22, Folcroft, PA 19032.

According to his obituary, Joner "dreamt of being a hero and was able to fulfill that dream through the Gift of Life Donor Program where his donation will touch the lives of over 100 people."

He was passionate about sports, swimming, fishing, and video games, his obituary reads.

"Ethan was known for his wild hair, bright smile and fantastic sense of humor," the obituary reads. "He was quick with a joke, loved to pull pranks and had an infectious, unforgettable laugh."

"This loss was unexpected, and we as a school community are grieving," Southeast Delco School District Superintendent Brenda G. Wynder said in a letter to the community following Joner's death.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the Joner family in their time of mourning.

"No one is prepared to say goodbye to their son who was full of life," organizer Erica Goodwin wrote.

As of Thursday afternoon, about $37,200 of the $50,000 goal has been raised.

"Although he loved baseball and the pool there is nothing he loved more than his family," Goodwin wrote. "His sisters Morgan and Cassidy are going to miss their little yet big brother and Brady will deeply miss his hero."

See here to contribute to the campaign.

The Folcroft Swim Club is hosting an event Saturday to commemorate the lifelong swimmer and lifeguard's life.

"The loss of Ethan Joner has crippled our Swim family and significantly impacted our entire community," the club said on social media. "The entire Daly/Joner family has dedicated themselves to this area and to our pool for so many years. It is our due diligence to honor them, pray for them and do what we can to lighten this unbearable load."

The event will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the club,

The club will host a Christmas Toy Drive for the Fostering Hope foundation which is going to continue and all toys being donated will be in honor of Joner.

Those interest in supporting the effort can bring donations of toys to the club Saturday.

A donation box will be at the pool's front gate for the entire season.

Additionally, the club is hosting a 50/50 in honor of Joner Saturday that will go to the family.