John Durwood Skipper, Jr. went to his Heavenly home on Friday evening, September 13, 2024. John was born in Houston County, Alabama on November 10, 1951, and resided in Dothan his younger years through graduation from Dothan High School in 1970.
John attended Troy University where he received his BS Degree in Business in 1974. He married Donna Granberry Skipper that same year, and they shared a wonderful life together. John and Donna resided primarily in Mobile before retiring to Auburn in 2022.
While in Mobile, John served His Lord faithfully at Woodmont Baptist Church, Moffett Road Baptist Church and became a charter member of West Mobile Baptist Church, where he attended for over 30 years. He served in all three churches as a Deacon, an Elder, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member and mentor. One of John’s favorite pastimes was playing dominos with some of his church buddies. He loved to shout out “one bone” and slam it down for the win. He and Donna are currently members of Parkway Baptist Church in Auburn.
John was employed as a Regional Sales Manager with a chemical manufacturer, DPC Enterprises. John also served our country in the US Coast Guard. He was active with the Gulf Coast Strike Force during 911. John received an honorary discharge from the USCG in 2009, after 31 years of service.
John enjoyed being an active part of the Mobile County Republican Party for many years, serving as Ballot Security Chair, Vice-Chair, and Chair. John also served on the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee for over 15 years and was elected as Sr Vice-Chair in 2021.
In earlier years, John served as President of Municipal Park Baseball. John enjoyed the sport and was part of a state championship team when he was fourteen. He also enjoyed coaching and serving in this leadership role. He was also a member of the Sunshine Rotary Club.
John will be missed by many friends but most of all, his family. He and Donna celebrated 50 years of marriage this year. God blessed them with two children, John Durwood Skipper, III (Tripp) and Tara Reece Skipper Armbruster (Matt). He adored his nine granddaughters, Teagan, Shelby, Michaela, Abbey, Mary Paige, Anna, Maggie, Lucy and Kate. To these nine girls, he was affectionately known as “Big Daddy”, and they were all his “dahlins”. He has left his family with many sweet memories of good times together.
John is also survived by two brothers, Tim Skipper (Joyce) and Mark Skipper (Kim) and two brothers-in law, Perry Granberry (Robyn) and Bill Granberry and several nieces and nephews and families. John was preceded in death by his parents, Durwood and Jessie Skipper and his in-laws, Alfred and Jimmie Granberry.
Friends and extended family are invited to a celebration of life service which will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 4:00 pm at West Mobile Baptist Church - 7501 Airport Boulevard, Mobile, Alabama. Burial will be the following morning, September 23, 2024, at 11:00 am at the State Veterans Cemetery on Hwy 225 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to West Mobile Baptist Church (address shown above) or Ransom Ministries at 320 South Craft Hwy - Chickasaw, Alabama 36611.
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