He was born March 19, 1940, in Kidder, Missouri, the son of Roy and Dorothy (Nichols) Vanderpool. John graduated from Kidder High School. He joined the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1964.
He was a member of the St. Joseph Tabernacle Church. John was a Christian, husband, father, and grandfather to many. He was a career union worker with stents at Eastern Airlines and Ford Motor Company.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Dorothy Vanderpool; his wife Gloria Vanderpool; two brothers, Jesse Vanderpool and Marvin Vanderpool; two sisters, Betty Renaue and Elsie Vanderpool; one stepson, David Smoot.
John is survived by his son Gene Vanderpool; two daughters, Kimberly Smoot and Cari Vanderpool; three stepsons, Chris Smoot, Allen Smoot, and Tom Smoot; and one step-daughter, Tammy Smoot; several grandchildren; one brother, Charlie Vanderpool; and one sister, Evelyn Hager.
