Lieutenant Colonel USMC (Ret.) John A. Rooke, age 87, passed away at home in Oak Harbor, Washington on March 17, 2025. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

John was born January 6, 1938 in Los Angeles, California to Ralph and Helen Rooke.

He was brother to two sisters, Carol and Joyce. John grew up in Inglewood, California, graduating from Morningside High School in 1955. He then attended Glendale City College, where he graduated with an associates degree in Aeronautics and obtained a private pilot license. John went on to complete requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at San Diego State University and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Pepperdine University.

John began his decorated military career in 1957 when he joined the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD). He received his Navy Wings of Gold and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps January 1959. It was at Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California that John met and married the love of his life, Marian Maves in 1960. John then served on the USS Midway in the Western Pacific and in Iwakuni, Japan before returning to Beeville, Texas, where he and Marian welcomed their son, Steven and daughter, Suzanne.

John served two one-year tours of duty at the Chu Lai Air Base in Vietnam, where he flew some 420 combat missions in the A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. On his first tour, John’s squadron operated from an 8,000 foot runway built of Marsten Matting and constructed by Navy Sea Bees and Marine engineers. After completion, the runway settled into the porous soil beneath, requiring half to be closed for repairs. These repairs were a continual evolution, which required take-offs using JATO (Jet-Assisted Take-off), and arrested landings, similar to Aircraft Carrier operations. These challenging conditions were overcome during John’s second tour at Chu Lai after construction of a 12,000 foot concrete runway.

After his tours in Vietnam, John was first stationed in Washington DC at Headquarters, U.S Marine Corps, then San Diego, California, followed by Yuma, Arizona. It was at the Marine Corp Air Base in Yuma where John ascended to Executive Officer, then Commanding Officer of Marine Attack Squadron 223, the Great American Bulldogs, flying the A4M, the last model of the venerable Skyhawk aircraft.

During his military career, John served in four A-4 Squadrons, including while in Vietnam, Marine Attack Squadron 214, the widely-known Black Sheep. John’s squadron was once visited by the original Black Sheep, himself, Gregory “Pappy” Boyington of WWII fame.

Pappy was only scheduled to spend an hour with John’s squadron but ended up staying all night!

In addition to the A-4 Skyhawk, John logged hours in the Grumman F9f-8T, B Cougar, F-4 Phantom, C-117 (DC-3), and SNB.

John retired from the Marine Corp in June 1978 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He and his family relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona where John sold insurance and mutual funds. After 5 years, the Rooke’s moved to Whidbey Island, Washington where John began teaching for Emery Riddle Aeronautical University on the Naval Air Station. This led to a 25 year tenure at the university, including two years at U.S. Military installations in Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, In conjunction with teaching, John worked for government contractors in the aviation training field, first at the Naval Air Station in Fallon, NV for the Naval Strike Warfare Center, then at Whitney with VAQ-129, which at the time was EA-6B Prowler Replacement Aircrew Squadron. After eight years of aviation training work, John retired, though continued to teach for a few more years at Emory Riddle.

In retirement, John enjoyed many pastimes, though his favorite was golfing with the world famous Gallery Ball Droppers. It was at the Gallery Golf Course where John miraculously scored a total of three holes in one! John also enjoyed fishing, taking cruises, and traveling around the country especially to his favorite destination, Hawaii.

John is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marian, his two children, son Steven of Anchorage, AK, daughter Suzanne Sewester of Oak Harbor, and two grandchildren, Michael Sewester of Norfolk, Va and Justine Sewester of Oak Harbor.