John Albert Wotring

John was born in Cumberland, Maryland to Dorothy C. and John C. Wotring. In 1928 the family moved to Barberton, Ohio. John graduated from Barberton High School, at age 16, with the distinction of perfect attendance from the first grade to graduation.

He enlisted in the Air Corps and graduated flight school as a 2nd Lt. He was a B26 Bomber Pilot with the 344th Bomb Group, 494th Bomb Squadron in WWII, flew 22 missions in the European Theatre and every member of his crew returned home safely.

On his return home from the war he married Louise (Roach) on January 3, 1946-they had been married 71 plus years at the time of his passing.

After the service he attended and graduated from Akron University and while working full time, he received his Masters Degree attending classes at night from Case Tech in 1953.

Some of his career highlights include his work in 1957, directly with Admiral Rickover in the designing of the hydraulic Pumps for the first Nuclear Submarine. In 1960 he was involved in the core of the Minute Man Missile Project. He also was directly involved on the Mercury and Gemini Rocket engines for the NASA Flight Programs. He has 3 Patents for his work in the Hydraulic Pump and Aircraft Fuel Pump Industry.

In the mid 1960's he accepted a position with Vickers/Sperry Flight Systems that took the family to Bad Hamburg, Germany for 3 years, as manager of over 600 people in multiple countries. While there the family had the opportunity to visit over 21 countries on weekends and holidays.

Returning from his stint in Germany he accepted another position with Sperry Flight Systems in Phoenix, Arizona. He retired from Sperry in 1977 at the age of 55.

John and Louise enjoyed 40 years of a well deserved retirement, some of the years residing in Cave Creek and their summer home in Prescott and later back in Phoenix. They enjoyed many road trips back and forth across the USA. John also loved nature and hiking . Because of his love of the Grand Canyon, he hiked the Bright Angel Trail and the Havasupai Trail multiple times in his mid 60s with a memorable solo hike down to Phantom Ranch for his 75th birthday where they surprised him with a birthday cake!

John's faith in Christ was of supreme importance to him and he served as an Elder at Mountain View Church for several years and was a board member of the Arizona Evangelistic Association which planted several churches in Arizona and built the first Christian Care/Fellowship Square Senior Living Community.

John was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy, father John, brother Elmo in WWII, sister Dorothy and brother Edward.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Louise, his daughter Linda Anderson, daughter Janice (Jack) Hill, granddaughter Kellie (Brian) Galligan, 3 nephews and 6 nieces, and many extended family members and friends.

His family is comforted knowing they will see him again and are assured that he received a loving welcome with the words "Well Done good and faithful Servant".

John will be remembered and honored at a military service.