John Vinton Waldron of Oak Harbor went to be with our Lord on the night of Aug. 15 at the age of 83.

John was born on Feb. 7, 1932, in Sierra Madre, Calif., to Vinton and Elizabeth Waldron.

He was married on May 16, 1952, to Leila Mae Combs, whom he always lovingly called “Wife” and to whom he was married for 63 years.

John graduated high school in Los Angeles, was a veteran of the U.S. Navy (1951-1955) and served during the Korean War. He was vice president at Washington Federal Savings and retired at the age of 55. He was also an avid fisherman (with an addiction to collecting lures) and commercially fished in the Puget Sound as well as in Alaska. 

John was a member of Kiwanis, Navy League and Puget Sound Gillnetters Association.  He was also a trustee of North Whidbey Chamber of Commerce and active in United Good Neighbors.

John spoiled his family with many cruises, as he always wanted to have each family member close by making memories that would last a lifetime. He and Leila also spent several weeks during each year traveling around the country in their RV, where their team, ‘the San Juanders,’ won many “bean bag baseball” tournaments with their fellow RV friends.  

John is survived by his wife, Leila Waldron; daughter, Cheryl Cooper (spouse John); son, Steven Waldron (spouse Joan); son, Vinton Waldron (spouse Charisse); and sister, Ruth Thomas. He and Leila have nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren with another one on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vinton J. and Elizabeth Waldron, and his sister, Lois Grube.

John was a dedicated Christian man who attended faithfully at Living Word church in Oak Harbor.

He will be extremely missed by all who knew and loved him.