Goodbye for Now Grandpa

Today my grandpa passed away. He was a good man and had a great heart and a beautiful spirit.  I only have one grandparent left and I am sad. It is really hard knowing that my kids will not be able to grow up with my grandparents.  I love them all dearly and will miss my grandpa so much.

John Vernon Wiley, Sr.
Born in Toledo, OH on Nov. 30, 1919
Departed on May 8, 2014 and resided in Owensboro, KY.

Service: No Service

Cemetery: Toledo Memorial Gardens

John Vernon Wiley, Sr., 94, of Owensboro died Thursday, May 8, 2014, at Signature Healthcare at Hillcrest in Owensboro. He was born November 30, 1919 in Toledo, OH, the son of Ora May Yarrick and Steven Wiley. John married Marilyn Ann Post in Mobile, AL where he was stationed in the Navy during World War II. During the war, John was a pilot in the Navy where he was in the reorganized Torpedo Squadron Eight. He received his wings August 1, 1944. After the war, he stayed in the Naval Reserves. John returned to Ohio where he and Marilyn made their home in Adams Township, which is now part of Toledo. Upon moving to Adams Township, he drove a school bus, farmed, raised laying hens, sold eggs and worked as a propane serviceman. He retired from Cal-Gas in 1982. John was active in the community. He was elected to the Adams Township School Board where he served as president, was chairman of the Republican party of Adams Township and was a ward committeeman. John was a member of American Legion Post #553, and was on the Adams Township Volunteer Fire Department. The family was members of Epiphany Lutheran Church.  He and Marilyn had three children, John Junior of Owensboro; Anne (Jeffery Mitchell) of Middletown, OH and Ruth Wilson (Harold) of Owensboro. John and Marilyn bought a home on Lake Erie in Luna Pier, MI where he enjoyed his favorite pastimes of fishing and boating. Family and friends enjoyed the place at the lake and many of the grandchildren learned to fish and ski with Grandpa. Upon retirement, the couple bought a motor home and traveled the country, seeing lots of sights, meeting many new people and eventually leading them to Florida where they purchased a home. John and Marilyn then spend the summers in Luna Pier at the lake and the winters in Florida on Easy Street in Palmdale, FL. You could find him reading a good book, doing crossword puzzles or listening to the McNeil Lehrer report to keep him current with the politics of the nation and state. Family can remember his wise counsel especially reminding that "fresh air and exercise" are the ways to improve sickness and keep one healthy, which he practiced daily. John and Marilyn moved to Owensboro, KY after selling their lake home. Preceding him in death were his parents, and a sister, Janet Beidleman. In addition to his three children, John leaves six grandchildren, Elizabeth Eisenmann Thompson (Mike) of McGaheysville, VA, Phillip Eisenmann (Danielle) of Gilmanton, NH, Marilyn Amantea (John) of Brook Park, OH, Paula Wodzisz (Gerald) of Medina, OH, John Wiley, III of Cleveland, OH and Morgan Wiley of Owensboro; five step-grandchildren, Sheena Purcell (Pat) of Owensboro, and Kris Mitchell, Erin Waller (TJ), Adam Mitchell, and Sara Johnsen (Ryan) all of Ohio; eight great grandchildren, Michael and Annabelle Eisenmann, Dominic and Amanda Amantea, and Destiny, Jerry, Paul and Hope Wodzisz; eight step-great grandchildren, Candice Fenton, and Hannah and Kirstin Brown all of Owensboro and McKenna, Reagan and John Waller, and Lillianna Johnsen all of Ohio.

John will be buried in Toledo Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will be planned in Luna Pier, MI at a later date. James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro, KY is in charge of arrangements.