John A. Ayres ,Jr.

John Anderson Ayres Jr., age 69, passed away on October 16, 2014 at his home in Centennial, CO. He was born on October 26, 1944 in Charlottesville, VA to John and Mary Sapsara Ayres. John grew up in Guys Mills, PA; Kirtland, OH; and Willoughby, OH. In 1962, he graduated from Willoughby’s South High School. Afterwards, he proudly joined the United States Air Force and served overseas and stateside assignments from 1962 through 1966, just as the Vietnam War era began. The next 2 years he served in the Air Force Reserves. He was honorably discharged in 1966 and was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct and National Defense Service Medals. His achievements as an Airman included maintenance and repair of ultra-high frequency radio communications equipment, advanced electronic circuits. Additionally, he trained fellow Airmen, surpassing all others in these areas with the highest of standards. He loved serving his country in the Air Force.

In 1967, John married his beloved wife, Judy Lynn Armstrong, in Spokane, WA. They were happily married for 47 years. John and Judy established their first home and family in Euclid, OH, where they lived until 1976. During this time, John worked in a variety of technical capacities at Hickok, Gilmore Industries, and Ohio Nuclear, Inc. His commute to the latter company necessitated a move south to Macedonia, where he and his family stayed for 2 years. While John lived in northeast Ohio, he and his family were members of Saint Christine’s and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic churches.

A job promotion to Regional Service Manager transplanted John and his family to Englewood, CO (now Centennial), where he resided until 2014. John was employed at Martin Marietta’s Antenna Range in Jefferson County from 1983 until 1986. During the same period, he launched A-Comm Electronics, which sold surplus electronic test instrumentation to customers around the globe. In 1987, John took his business full time and left Martin. He enjoyed being in control of his own destiny, and he devoted his life to making the sole-proprietorship work. In a loving way, he labored almost every day right up to his very last. John was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Centennial. He enjoyed hobbies such as amateur radio, antenna design, camping, fishing, dancing, and weather observation. John also liked animals, especially a neighborhood fox. He related to the stories told in country music songs, and he had a good sense of humor, too.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Anderson Ayres, Sr. and Mary Sapsara Ayres. John is survived by his spouse, Judith (Judy) Lynn Armstrong Ayres of Centennial, CO; his sons Theodore John (and wife Ali) Ayres of Castle Rock, CO; David Allan (and wife Doris) Ayres of Eugene, OR; Douglas Michael Ayres of Carlsbad, CA; and daughter Deborah Ann (and husband Luis) Ayres Rodriguez of Dayton, OH; his sister Gabrielle Laurel Ayres of Atherton, CA; and brother Paul Leroy (and wife Carol) Ayres of Fuquay-Varina, NC; his granddaughters Rosemary Kate and Maya Elisabeth Ayres of Castle Rock, CO, and nephew Nathanael David Kinstlinger (and wife Jill Eckinger) of Chandler, AZ. A memorial service will be held at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd at 2:00 PM, October 23, 2014. The family will be greeting friends and relatives there after the 2 pm service. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests letters of your memories about John to be sent to Judy Ayres. Alternatively memories and condolences may be left on John Anderson Ayres, Jr.'s memorial guest book.