He attended McDade High School and worked on construction jobs with his father. He had the good fortune to travel as a child because of his father’s work and that instilled a love of travel and other cultures.

John attended Angelo State University where he studied Business and Finance and belonged to the CAP. After college, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he saw combat in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. John was a Marine until the end, fighting a hard battle with cancer. In fact, his last physician was an Iraqi that was liberated in the War who fought on the same side as a combat interpreter. Dr. Aghababgan immigrated to the USA to serve the people of America as thanks for liberating his nation.

At the end of the War, John’s ship was diverted to Bangladesh for humanitarian aid in Operation Sea Angel. The tiny nation had been ravaged by a tsunami.

After leaving the Marine Corps, John became Commander of two VFW Posts and later joined the Bastrop County Veterans Honor Guard where he eventually became Commander. His unit is providing his military honors in the wake of his passing. The Bastrop County Sheriff, Maurice Cook, has been very supportive of the BCVHG, and his team will provide an escort for John. While in the Marine Corps, he became a tax expert and later used his skills to help a growing community of Mexican immigrants who came to America seeking a better life.

John gave tirelessly to his community by building spook houses, decorating the school for Christmas and student parties, providing fireworks for Independence Day and building the wheelchair ramp at his church. John also volunteered at the animal shelter.

After leaving the USMC, John flew for commuter airlines and the State of Texas eventually mapping highway access for the future Toll 130/45 and Parmer Road. He also located and mapped the campgrounds for Poncho Villa and mapped the migratory patterns of large cats across Texas.

John went to work for Southwest Airlines in 2000. Many years later he met and married his life’s love and partner, Marilyn. They met a young man, Seth Davis who became like a son to them. Seth married a beautiful Texas girl, Brittany and they will welcome their first child, Diana this winter. Seth will be following John to Southwest in the near future.

John’s passions extended to his hobbies, including parachuting and racing. His racing career started on a local dirt track where he was mentored and befriended by Bryan Mayeux, and eventually he raced on road courses, including his favorite at COTA. While racing a NASA race John met and became friends with Edward McKinnon. Edward was an integral part of Hobbs Racing.

During a race event, a film crew from Australia interviewed John and put him in two episodes of Blokes World for Australian lV. Those episodes lead a father/son team, Clinton and Lawrence Adams who were touring America to look John up. They became dear friends. Clinton and his wife, Shirley, gave John a godson, Cal.

Late in life, John met Paul Barkhurst, a lawyer and former fighter pilot. Together, they fought corruption and malfeasance in various organizations and prevailed. They remained friends until the end.

John will forever be remembered as a Patriot of the first order. He was a Marine - no greater friend, no worse enemy. He was passionate about each of his endeavors and excelled in every one. He was a natural aviator, fabulous husband, friend, father and son.

He is survived by his mother Margaret, sisters Joanne and Nancy and her husband James, daughter Abbey, ‘adopted’ son Seth Davis and his wife Brittany and a granddaughter Diana, as well as a large family in Azel, TX.