Lafon, John Earnest
John Earnest Lafon
September 3, 1951 – July 5, 2023
John was a good kid and only got in trouble, when he wanted to! Born in the Nance family home at Wayside Virginia in 1951, he spent some time in Eggleston in school and later in Norfolk grade school.
After we moved back to Narrows, he finished the remainder of his school years graduating from Narrows High School, driving a school bus a few of those years. John and Tony grew up close playing music, driving old cars, and sleigh riding, those were the days! Being around our father and others Playing Music, John came up with his own style after joining the Army Playing the Guitar and French Harp together, writing some of his own songs. Uncle John, was the Best Uncle Tony and Amanda could ever have! Uncle John loved having great nephew Owen as his elevator operator and buddy. We enjoyed our many trips to visit John and family when he was stationed at Fort Eustis in Norfolk VA. He enjoyed the attention of his family and friends through this awful illness, it meant the world to him.
John attended Giles Vocational School in the Auto Mechanics Program, in its first year of 1968. He liked working on automobiles particularly Ford and Toyota trucks, and always wanted to keep them clean and in good condition.
He enjoyed fishing whether it was on the banks of the New River or out on the Ocean, running Amphibious Vehicles in the Philippines, he was in his element.
He had a passion for anything to do with the Military and was ready to Join in 1974. During his run in the Transportation Department, he was able to experience several situations and was charged as an E6 Sargent to lead Ship Crews, Transporting Products including Ammunitions, Fuels, and Medicines. He was a Watercraft Operator for 16 years and 12 years a Watercraft Engineer. They went regularly to the city of Panama and the Philippines, and back State Side. John made some lifelong friends throughout his journey and stayed in contact to the end.
Later during his stint, he spent two years at Fort Ord in San Francisco California. This sight was used to train troops for combat using heavy equipment, discharging guns, rockets and bombs. He left in 1991 and the base was closed in 1992. John received many Metals and Awards during his time of Service.
After his discharge John worked in various jobs such as construction, car dealer ships, security and flee marketing. He enjoyed making a good deal and was able to travel some, making new friends such as Johnny (Dud) of Ohio, and Larry of Tazewell. He had a true entrepreneur spirit! He worked steady at this endeavor until he became too weak from the MDS, and He Really Missed it.
He was hospitalized repeatedly with many transfusions, treatments, teams of doctors and went to be with Jesus early morning on July 5, 2023. John was a good person with a good heart and accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior, and began a new direction for Eternity. John we will Always Love and Forever Miss You.
We would especially like to thank Ray at the Veterans Hospital and Blue Ridge Cancer Center, and many others who helped John through this illness. God Bless You All.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.
There will be a funeral service conducted for John on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM in the Kendall Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will conclude at the Sunrise Cemetery in Rich Creek, Virginia with military honors presented. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 13, 2023 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM in Kendall Funeral Home. A guestbook is available to send condolences by visiting www.kendallfuneralhome.com. The staff of Kendall Funeral Home are honored to serve the Lafon family.