John Harrison Cavender

Colonel John Harrison Cavender, age 94, passed away peacefully with family by his side in Charleston, WV on March 9, 2016. John was born on February 11, 1922 in Clendenin, West Virginia to Ira and Ora Miller Cavender. He graduated in 1940 from South Charleston High School and worked at the Libby-Owens-Ford Glass Company for several years. World War II was beckoning and he answered the call by enlisting in the Army Air Corp in 1942 as an aviation cadet and in 1943 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and soon became a C-47 commander. During these war years, he married Mildred (Miggie) L. Markham of South Charleston in 1943 and they began to build their life together amid the challenge of wartime. As part of his service as a pilot he transported and dropped paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne during the Normandy Invasion. At the close of the war he moved his young family to Germany for a year and flew in the Berlin Airlift. Upon return from the war he worked at Carbide Research and Development and in 1950 transferred to a career with the WV Air National Guard where he was a pilot and served as Operations Officer among other positions. While there he flew the P-51 Mustang, SA-16 Albatross, and the C-119 Flying Boxcar. He honorably retired in 1979 with a Command Pilot/Instructor rating. In 1955 John and Millie purchased acreage near Cross Lanes, WV, built their dream ranch-style home and learned to live “country style”. John began his life-long enjoyment of nature and the outdoors, becoming well-versed in trees, plants and wildlife. He also became an avid fisherman and maintained a love of golf, and exceptional playing skills, that began in his teens as a caddy at the Kanawha Country Club. He and Millie purchased a camp in Clay County which the family enjoyed for many years, along with the numerous nature-focused vacations he arranged at WV State Parks. He and Millie also purchased a winter vacation home on Lake Pierce, Florida where they enjoyed boating, golfing, watching launches from Cape Canaveral, and the bird and aquatic life of lakeside. John had a steel trap memory and excelled at humor, games, and storytelling. He was a self-taught musician and a master spinner of tall tales that he delighted in sharing with others. He never met a stranger, always had twinkle in his eye, and was an unforgettable – and much loved - character. He is survived by Millie - the love of his life - and three children: son Michael John Cavender, his wife Philima Romeo of Lakes Wales, FL., their daughters Patricia Cavender (and granddaughter Reilley) of Charleston, SC, and Dawn Cavender of Lake Wales, FL.; daughter Pam Cavender Curry and her husband Mel Curry of Sissonville, WV; and son Timothy George Cavender of Charleston, WV and his daughter Ananda Seebach of Burien, WA. Additionally he leaves his sister Doris McCurdy of San Francisco, CA; his brother Robert Cavender and his wife, Beverly of Largo, FL.; six nephews, Jonathan, Rob, Greg, Otis, David, Daryl; three nieces, Diana, Karen, and Kathy; and their families. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Otis Leroy Cavender and Donald Ray Cavender; niece Karen McCurdy Ford; sister-in-law Marguerite Cavender; and brother-in-law Reber McCurdy. The family would like to acknowledge a few of his many special friends: Robin, Bonnie, Marilyn, Carmella, Ester, and beloved staff members and fellow residents at The Ridgemont at Edgewood Summit in Charleston where he resided for many years. As he requested, there will be no public memorial service. John suggested that in lieu of sending flowers or making a donation in his memory that you take a relaxing walk in the forest or countryside, enjoy nature, and reflect on a humorous story, poem, or song to share with your family and friends.