John Hughes Fennell

John Hughes Fennell was born May 11, 1935 in Allerton, Iowa. He passed from this world on May 26, 2023 in Wills Point, Texas. John was preceded in death by his parents John Kennedy and Thelma Monica Fennell, his sister Nancy Beth Fennell and his first wife, Carolyn Myers Fennell.

John grew up in the small farming community of Allerton, Iowa on his family’s farm. His early years on the farm were formed by hard work and the deprivations that were part of rationing efforts of World War II. This work ethic, self-reliant attitude and the need to not waste anything was carried with him throughout his life. He graduated from Allerton High School in May of 1953, one of three boys in a class of seventeen. He said he never had trouble finding a prom date. He married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Myers, in July 1953 and they remained married until her death in 1988. John attended Iowa State University after high school and graduated with a bachelor’s in business. While in college, he joined the Air Force Reserves in April 1955 and received training as an aircraft jet engine mechanic. He was honorably discharged in April 1958 at the rank of Airman Second Class. John was a natural salesman and after graduating college with his love of carpentry and building construction, he worked most of his adult life as a commercial construction materials salesman in both Iowa with Sheffield Brick and Tile Co. and in Texas after moving to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1966 for a sales job with K-Lath Corporation. He started his own business, WCM Inc., in the 70’s which he operated for several years selling building materials. John finished his working career working for Home Depot in Duncanville, TX as a “Homer” helping contractors put together large material purchases. John retired from Home Depot in 2000. He met Wanda Darling through his kids and they married in 1996. He and Wanda moved to Gun Barrel City, Texas after John’s retirement and built a home on Cedar Creek Lake where they resided for several years. They then moved to Canton, Texas in 2006 and were members of the Lakeside Baptist Church in Canton. They lived in the Canton area until his death.

John had a lifelong love of woodworking, design and construction of buildings and home remodeling. Throughout his life he constantly remodeled his homes, built workshops and carports. He designed and built two homes on Cedar Creek Lake during his retirement. He and his wife, Wanda enjoyed camping and NASCAR for many years traveling the United States to various NASCAR tracks and race drivers’ facilities and camping in their RV. John remained hard working and self-reliant until his death.

John is survived by his wife, Wanda Darling, sister Janis Besco, children Liz Grindele (husband Jim), Tim Fennell (wife Pam) and Nancy Loyd (husband Monte), step children Dawn Darling, Dean Darling (wife Robin), Deann Darling and Dyann Freeman (husband Clay), grandchildren (14) Jamie, John, Mark, Bailey, Tyler, Braden, Daniel, Kristen, Paris, Grant, Chelsea, Tiffany, Whitney and Collin. Great grandchildren (13) Kennedy, Carolyn, Nova, Brock, Maddox, Oliver, Theo, Margeaux, Beau, Makayla, Cooper, Kaden and Tucker.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Fennell family.