John Anthony Newton died peacefully on August 19, 2015 in his centennial year at Hospice Home at the Shellpoint Retirement Community in Fort Myers, FL. He is preceded in death by his wife Nora Lee (Isaacs) Newton of 46 years, his two brothers Ted and Edward and his grandson Jeffery Newton.
John A. Newton, known to family as "PA" was born June 26, 1916 in Chicago Illinois. During the Great Depression, he earned the funds necessary to graduate with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MS degree in Metallurgical Engineeering from Ohio State University in 1939. He had a strong desire to succeed in life and started his career with Chrysler in Detroit MI; then TRW in Cleveland where he was the creator of several automotive inventions and initiated many internal combustion patents. He finished his corporate career at Lubrizol in Cleveland OH.
In 1946, he was a founder of Bethandale Corp. which specialized in designing and manufacturing complex parts for the automotive and aircraft industries which he sold in 1971 to Buckeye International. In 1973, he bought Meech Foundry in Garfield Hts.,OH which acquired Atlas Foundry and Zoller Casting Company. He was an advocate for small business against the continual intrusion of federal regulation. He served on a special State Commission under Ohio Gov. James Rhodes. In 1977, he was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal "The Venturers - Mr. Newton's Foundry Spends Time Coping with Red Tape" and in 1980 he attended the first Small Business Conference in Wash. D.C. under Jimmy Carter.
Mr. Newton acquired his pilot's license in 1952 and enjoyed recreational aviation for over 25 years. He was an avid golfer, dancer, fisherman and boater.
He is survived by his children Beth (James) Shook of Venice FL, Jon O. Newton of Cleveland OH and Mary (Steven) Wessell of Denver CO, eight grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
He will be missed for his vision, wisdom, fortitude, generosity and love of family.
An 11:15 am Memorial Service will be held on Monday, August 24th at The Village Church, 15100 Shellpoint Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. Donations may be sent to the Salvation Army, 2507 E. 22nd St., Cleveland OH 44115.
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