John F. Dewey

John Fremont Dewey III, 93, of Winston-Salem, NC, peacefully passed away of natural causes on April 24, 2023. With him at the time was Nancy Dewey, his wife of almost 68 years. They had recently moved to Assisted Living care at Heritage Woods in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Nan continues to live there as an Independent Living resident.

John Dewey was born on August 19, 1929 to Clark Huntington Dewey and Edythe Naomi McGinley Dewey in Washington, D.C. He was born into a military family; his father was a Command Sergeant Major in the Army Corps of Engineers and his mother oversaw Morale Welfare and Recreational (MWR) services at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. His father died when he was six years old, so he was raised by his mother Edythe and sisters, Mary, and Catherine.

After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and served until 1952. Following his service as a Marine, John studied History and English and earned his Bachelor’s degree at Western Maryland College in Westminster, Maryland. There he met Nancy Pennington. They were married at Western Maryland College chapel on June 19th, 1955.

For more than 20 years, John served as an active member of the United States Army. He became a career officer in the branch of Field Artillery, and served two tours in Vietnam. John retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

John and Nan raised four children: Scott P. Dewey (deceased), Clair E. (Dewey) Rulison, John F. Dewey IV, and Maribeth “Katy” (Dewey) Allin. When their children were grown, John and Nan went to Bali Indonesia for 8 years to run a hospitality house for missionaries. When John was 70, he and Nan returned to the United States and eventually settled in Lexington, North Carolina, where they lived for more than 20 years, until their recent move to Winston-Salem. In those years they were active members of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the local VFW Post 9010 in Clemmons, NC, and Pinedale Christian Church.

We praise God for John’s life and legacy, his faithfulness as a husband and father, and his love for God. We miss him very much, but know he is in perfect peace with his Heavenly Father, praising His name. As believers in Christ, John’s family looks forward to seeing him again someday in Heaven.

The Interment of ashes and military ceremony will be held at Salisbury National Cemetery, NC, on 16 June (Friday), 2023, at 1300 hours (1pm).

Address: 501 Statesville Blvd. Salisbury, NC 28144.

The Cemetery is behind the Salisbury VA Medical Center. Follow the signs and road ending in a brick building with metal green roof (administrative bldg.), where there is parking. Guests will be led by cemetery staff to the ‘committal shelter’ where the military service will be held.

The Memorial Service, celebrating John’s life, will be held on Saturday, 17 June, from 1400-1600 hours (2-4pm) at the Pinedale Christian Church gym. Friends and family are welcome. There will be finger food and refreshments. Written memories of fond or funny times with John, for Nan Dewey to save in a book, would be appreciated and cherished.

Address: Pinedale Christian Church, 3395 Peters Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27127

Any questions, please contact by text or phone (563) 343-1178.