Son of John Calvin Rea and Cora Matilda (Peterson) Rea; Brother of Jewel Magdelina Rea and Dot Wandoff (Stewart) Rea; Husband of Betty Jean (Motzer) Rea whom he married on 10-21-1944 at the Greenville Methodist Church in Greenville, Illinois; Father of David John Rea, Douglas Charles Rea, Sr., and Jan Elizabeth (Hablitzel) Rea;
Born and raised in the small town of Pocahontas, Illinois, located to the east of St. Louis on Old Rte. 40 the National Trail. He graduated from Pocahontas High School in a Senior class of 9. The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked he went to St. Louis and enlisted in the U.S.Navy. He then went to flight school and after graduation became an instrument flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After the war he and wife Betty moved to Flat Rock, Michigan and he worked for the DT&I Railroad (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) and then for the Ford Motor Company. He first was at the World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and then at the Lima, Ohio Engine Plant and the Cleveland Engine Plants two different times. He retired from Ford as Traffic Manager of the Cleveland Engine Plants, Brookpark, Ohio in March of 1978 with 34 years of service. At the time he was the most senior Traffic Manager in Ford's North American Operation.
Upon retirement John worked part time as a baliff in the Medina Municipal Court for Judge Kermit Neeley. He called Valley City, Ohio home for 34 years and was always active in his community. He belonged to the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, was the first Chairman of the Medina County Planning Commission, served on the Liverpool Township Zoning Board of Appeals and one term as Liverpool Township Trustee. He served two terms on the Buckeye Local Board of Education from 1970-1977. He had served a little over a term on the Flat Rock Board of Education in Flat Rock, Michigan in the 60's until he had to resign upon taking the job at the Cleveland Engine Plants in 1965.
He enjoyed raising a few steers, doing wood working and in general just keeping up with his house and property after retirement. He and Betty spent winters in Florida for a few years with a fifth wheel trailer they owned. He also loved being around his grandchildren of which he had 5.
Born and raised in the small town of Pocahontas, Illinois, located to the east of St. Louis on Old Rte. 40 the National Trail. He graduated from Pocahontas High School in a Senior class of 9. The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked he went to St. Louis and enlisted in the U.S.Navy. He then went to flight school and after graduation became an instrument flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After the war he and wife Betty moved to Flat Rock, Michigan and he worked for the DT&I Railroad (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) and then for the Ford Motor Company. He first was at the World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and then at the Lima, Ohio Engine Plant and the Cleveland Engine Plants two different times. He retired from Ford as Traffic Manager of the Cleveland Engine Plants, Brookpark, Ohio in March of 1978 with 34 years of service. At the time he was the most senior Traffic Manager in Ford's North American Operation.
Upon retirement John worked part time as a baliff in the Medina Municipal Court for Judge Kermit Neeley. He called Valley City, Ohio home for 34 years and was always active in his community. He belonged to the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, was the first Chairman of the Medina County Planning Commission, served on the Liverpool Township Zoning Board of Appeals and one term as Liverpool Township Trustee. He served two terms on the Buckeye Local Board of Education from 1970-1977. He had served a little over a term on the Flat Rock Board of Education in Flat Rock, Michigan in the 60's until he had to resign upon taking the job at the Cleveland Engine Plants in 1965.
He enjoyed raising a few steers, doing wood working and in general just keeping up with his house and property after retirement. He and Betty spent winters in Florida for a few years with a fifth wheel trailer they owned. He also loved being around his grandchildren of which he had 5.
Son of John Calvin Rea and Cora Matilda (Peterson) Rea; Brother of Jewel Magdelina Rea and Dot Wandoff (Stewart) Rea; Husband of Betty Jean (Motzer) Rea whom he married on 10-21-1944 at the Greenville Methodist Church in Greenville, Illinois; Father of David John Rea, Douglas Charles Rea, Sr., and Jan Elizabeth (Hablitzel) Rea;
Born and raised in the small town of Pocahontas, Illinois, located to the east of St. Louis on Old Rte. 40 the National Trail. He graduated from Pocahontas High School in a Senior class of 9. The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked he went to St. Louis and enlisted in the U.S.Navy. He then went to flight school and after graduation became an instrument flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After the war he and wife Betty moved to Flat Rock, Michigan and he worked for the DT&I Railroad (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) and then for the Ford Motor Company. He first was at the World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and then at the Lima, Ohio Engine Plant and the Cleveland Engine Plants two different times. He retired from Ford as Traffic Manager of the Cleveland Engine Plants, Brookpark, Ohio in March of 1978 with 34 years of service. At the time he was the most senior Traffic Manager in Ford's North American Operation.
Upon retirement John worked part time as a baliff in the Medina Municipal Court for Judge Kermit Neeley. He called Valley City, Ohio home for 34 years and was always active in his community. He belonged to the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, was the first Chairman of the Medina County Planning Commission, served on the Liverpool Township Zoning Board of Appeals and one term as Liverpool Township Trustee. He served two terms on the Buckeye Local Board of Education from 1970-1977. He had served a little over a term on the Flat Rock Board of Education in Flat Rock, Michigan in the 60's until he had to resign upon taking the job at the Cleveland Engine Plants in 1965.
He enjoyed raising a few steers, doing wood working and in general just keeping up with his house and property after retirement. He and Betty spent winters in Florida for a few years with a fifth wheel trailer they owned. He also loved being around his grandchildren of which he had 5.
Born and raised in the small town of Pocahontas, Illinois, located to the east of St. Louis on Old Rte. 40 the National Trail. He graduated from Pocahontas High School in a Senior class of 9. The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked he went to St. Louis and enlisted in the U.S.Navy. He then went to flight school and after graduation became an instrument flight instructor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After the war he and wife Betty moved to Flat Rock, Michigan and he worked for the DT&I Railroad (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) and then for the Ford Motor Company. He first was at the World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan and then at the Lima, Ohio Engine Plant and the Cleveland Engine Plants two different times. He retired from Ford as Traffic Manager of the Cleveland Engine Plants, Brookpark, Ohio in March of 1978 with 34 years of service. At the time he was the most senior Traffic Manager in Ford's North American Operation.
Upon retirement John worked part time as a baliff in the Medina Municipal Court for Judge Kermit Neeley. He called Valley City, Ohio home for 34 years and was always active in his community. He belonged to the Lion's Club, Chamber of Commerce, was the first Chairman of the Medina County Planning Commission, served on the Liverpool Township Zoning Board of Appeals and one term as Liverpool Township Trustee. He served two terms on the Buckeye Local Board of Education from 1970-1977. He had served a little over a term on the Flat Rock Board of Education in Flat Rock, Michigan in the 60's until he had to resign upon taking the job at the Cleveland Engine Plants in 1965.
He enjoyed raising a few steers, doing wood working and in general just keeping up with his house and property after retirement. He and Betty spent winters in Florida for a few years with a fifth wheel trailer they owned. He also loved being around his grandchildren of which he had 5.
Inscription
The Word "Always" is between the names on the stone. That was John & Betty's favorite song, it was played at their wedding and at John's funeral.
