John Willingham

Blountville, TN - John Robert Willingham was blessed with his eternal rest on October 21, 2015. He was born in 1924 in his beloved Andover, Virginia; a company village for the Interstate Railroad. He attended Appalachia High School and like many young men left school in 1941 to serve in the Navy during World War II. He was in the invasion of Normandy and his LST made numerous trips between England and France bringing back wounded and delivering fresh reserves and equipment. After the war, he returned to Appalachia High School where he met the love of his life Frances Louise Wells. Theirs was truly a love story of over 67 years. He followed family members in going to work on the Interstate Railroad and worked there for nine years until its demise in 1961. After that he moved his family to Kingsport, Tennessee where he worked for Holston Army Ammunition Plant for thirty one years before retiring as Supervisor of Utilities. John R. was always a giving person ready to help a neighbor or the community. He was involved for numerous years with the Boy Scouts of America, serving several times as Scout Master at various locations. He was a 50 year Mason at the Sinking Creek Lodge, and also donated time to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels and was a founding member of the Boone Lake Association. He was an active member of Wheeler United Methodist Church. He loved people and was a great storyteller. He was preceded in passing by his father Charles Alvin Willingham and mother Mettie Mayfield Willingham as well as Brothers Charles and Richard and Sisters Mary Faye Clark, Lucille Heflin, and Anne Gilbert. He is survived by his wife Louise Wells Willingham, a sister, Jean Willingham Livesay, a son Dennis and wife Wanda, and a daughter Jane Willingham Hawkins and husband John along with the light of his life grand daughters Julia and Jillian. He has several nephews and nieces closest of which are Janice Clark Mays, Judieth Seal and husband Wayne, Joan Gabriel Lyons and husband Jim. Grateful appreciation and love to dear sweet friends, church family, neighbors, Dr. Ronald Blackmore, Connie Sexton, Paula Garland, Denise Limbs, Rhonda Hillman for years of care. A visitation period to share memories and offer support to the family will be held on Sunday, October 25th at Wheeler United Methodist Church, 211 Sanders Street, Blountville, TN 37617 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service beginning at 4 p.m. For those who prefer in lieu flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Wheeler United Methodist Memorial Building Fund. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Willingham family.