John Price

He graduated high school from Shawnee, Oklahoma with the class of 1947. He then went on to proudly serve in the United States Army. Once he was discharged from the Army, John attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma with the GI Bill. He then married the love of his life, Dorothy Jean Brown on July 15, 1951 at the Blackburn Church in Bethel, Oklahoma. They enjoyed over 61 years together, until Dorothy’s passing in September of 2013.

John led an extraordinary life with all of his travels through work along with the dedication he showed to his Shoe Ministry. He started out working for Kinney Shoes in Shawnee. He then was promoted and went to work in Joplin, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. From there he went on to be the District Manager for Kinney Shoes in South Texas, working in San Antonio and along the Mexico and Texas border. He later became a shoe buyer for Kinney Shoes and was based out of New York City, New York. He was the first initial buyer of basketball shoes. He ended his career as Vice President for Foot Locker.

Once retired, John started his own consulting business for other shoe companies, based in Arlington, Texas. He then went on to start a Shoe Ministry in 2005 for kids in the Shawnee and the surrounding areas. He was dedicated to his work and when his son, Ben retired he joined alongside his Dad to continue the ministry. By the time of John’s death, he had donated an estimate of 45,000 shoes to children.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Anne Burton; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy and Myrtle Brown; brother, Harry Price; brother, David Burton; sister, Rose Marie Banks; sister-in-law, Katheryn Skeene; sister-in-law, Evelyn Hudson; sister-in-law, Christine Young, and brother-in-law, Robert Brown.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Ben Price; sister and husband, Martha and Roy Stout; and well as a host of nieces and nephews and many friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in John’s name to the Rock Creek Baptist Church Shoe Ministries, 44900 Hardesty Road, Shawnee, OK 74801.

A funeral service for John will be held Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Rock Creek Baptist Church, 44900 Hardesty Rd, Shawnee, OK 74801. Following the funeral service will be a committal service at 11:00 PM at Resthaven Memorial Park, 16006 S Rock Creek Rd, Shawnee, OK 74801.