John Ackley

John B. Ackley SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - John B. Ackley, 83, of Sun City West, Ariz., passed away Oct. 5, 2008. He was born in Covington, Ky. He honorably served his country during World War II, in the Pacific Theater in the United States Marine Corps. John was selected for Special Services and played the saxophone and sang with the Fleet Air Wing Band for three years entertaining troops and performing on 48 occasions with The Bob Hope U.S.O. Show. Afterwards, John received a bachelor's in music and master's in education from the University of Cincinnati College of Conservatory of Music. A longtime resident of Portsmouth, John was choral director of Woodrow Wilson High School, the director of Music Education from 1960-1987, choir director and soloist for numerous churches, president and Board of Director member of the Rotary Club, served as vice president and Board of Director member of Little Theater, president of Community Concert Association and chairman of Cultural Committee Chamber of Commerce. After retiring, he moved to Sun City West in 1989, and directed the Westernaires Chorus from 1990-1995. John is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Mildred; sister-in-law, Bertha Dorman; nephew and niece, James (Pam) Dorman and Julie Dorman. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunland Mortuary, 15826 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85351. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Development Office College Conservatory of Music, Attn: Miss Kit Anderson, P.O. Box 210003 UC, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0003.