John W. Ormsby, Jr.
May 7, 1927 – March 3, 2024
Sacramento, California
John W. Ormsby, Jr. passed peacefully at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, California on March 3, 2024 at the age of 96. The son of John Whitney Ormsby and Davie Frances Ormsby (nee Robinson), he was a 3rd generation native Californian and a descendant of two Revolutionary War officers. An avid genealogist, John found ties to the Sackett pioneering family and earlier ancestors in the wild frontier of early Vermont and Maine, back further to Lincolnshire, England from where a forefather immigrated to America in the 1630s.
John was raised on farms outside of Tracy, CA. During WWII, he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and was trained as an electronics technician. Following his discharge, he moved into an apartment in Sacramento. In the same building, four young ladies from Michigan shared an apartment. He went on to marry one of them, Alvina Rose Schoenborn, on June 25, 1949 and subsequently had five children. With their young family, John and Alvina enjoyed many cross-country trips to Alvina's family farm in Michigan, as well as Washington DC and Alaska (in 1964 after the Great Alaska Earthquake driving the Alcan Highway). Many weekends, the family took Sunday drives to the Sierras, which often involved fishing off the side of the road.
Specializing in Radar Systems, John worked at the Sacramento Signal Depot (later Army Depot) for over 30 years, making many lifelong friends. His work required him to travel throughout the USA and to both England and Germany. After the Depot, he worked as a consultant for Kentron International. This took him to the Pentagon and to both Japan and Korea, where Alvina visited. Following his retirement, John and Alvina continued to travel to Germany, Austria and Switzerland and, in later years, did bus excursions to Lake Tahoe.
John was a master of all trades including electrical, mechanical and construction, and had many hobbies (model airplanes, crossword puzzles, Sudoku). He built two boats, a camper, furniture/cabinetry, and could repair just about anything. He built his own computer before they were widely available, and remained computer savvy to the end of his life.
John and Alvina loved gardening. Into his 90s he personally shipped boxes of oranges, lemons and limes to friends and family members. Their vegetable garden, citrus trees, camellias, rhododendrons, orchids, roses and bromeliads thrived under their care.
From the 1960s, John and Alvina were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where John served as head usher. He was an active member of American Legion Post 608. Both he and Alvina were avid Sacramento Kings fans, attending many games.
John and Alvina were married for 72 years until her death in 2022. John is survived by children Sharon Oster, Sandra Wheeler (Tony), John W. Ormsby III (Marci), Ron Ormsby (Kathy) and Joe Ormsby (Gillian), 11 grandsons (Andy & Tony Oster, Whit, Charles & Nick Wheeler, Ronnie Ormsby, Darren Betz, David & Dustin Lemire, Garrett & Jack Ormsby), and 7 great-grandchildren (Olive Oster, Vincent & Vanessa Wheeler, Deejah Betz, Shawn Robinson, Camden & Remi Lemire). In addition, he is survived by his sisters Louella Sexsmith and Jeanne Ormsby and by sisters-in-law Leslie Ormsby, Rosemary Jorgensen and Betty Schoenborn, as well as several cousins and many nieces and nephews. And by his caregiver, Ema Ranadi, who provided exceptional care during his last months. In addition to Alvina, he was preceded in death by his brother Tom.
A Rosary is scheduled for March 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home in Sacramento. The family welcomes friends beforehand beginning at 5:00. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on March 20, 2024 at 10:30 AM. Burial services will be private.
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