John Herbert Westover

John Herbert Westover








John Herbert Westover, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Santa Maria on March 16, 2010, surrounded by loved ones.
He was born to John Henry Westover and Reva (Sawyer) Westover at the family home in Big Rapids, Michigan, on July 9, 1923. As a young man John worked in his father's plumbing business and in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Michigan. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. During World War II, John served in the Pacific Theater with the 90th Bomb Group known as the Jolly Rogers. He was a mechanic on the B-24 bomber and flew on bombing missions as the crew's photographer. After the war he returned home and married Beatrice Bogart. In 1951 he returned to military service with the U.S. Air Force serving as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; Nouasseur AFB, Morocco, and McCoy AFB, Florida. While at Forbes AFB, Kansas, he was part of a four-man ballistic missile launch crew. In 1967 he retired as a Master Sergeant from Vandenberg AFB and lived the rest of his life in the Santa Maria area where he was an active member of Oak Knolls Baptist Church for many years.
Throughout his life John was a caring and compassionate man who loved his family and would help anyone, friends and strangers alike, in any way that he could. He was loved by all who knew him and admired for his mechanical ability, particularly in the automotive and plumbing areas. He was a man who loved to work, felling trees, building a summer home in Michigan, helping to refurbish an old church, and many other projects. His hobbies included rebuilding cars and camping with friends and family especially at Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park.
John is survived by his wife Peggy (Doss) Westover; siblings Winona Beukema of Big Rapids, MI; Linn Westover and wife Delores of Evansville, IN; Mary McGuire of Holland, MI; James Westover and wife Anna Pearl of Big Rapids, MI; and David Westover and wife Marjorie also of Big Rapids. He is also survived by his children, Walter Westover and wife Susan of Ventura, Kathryn Porter and husband James of Lancaster, John Howard Westover and wife Laurie of Santa Maria, and Karen Miller and husband Robert of Santa Maria; twelve grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; Beatrice, his wife of 62 years; his sister, Beverly Inman; and his granddaughter, Lisa Smith.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm in the chapel of the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary with Pastor Dave Westover officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Memory Gardens of the Dudley-Hoffman Columbarium. Military honors will be provided by Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory and Memory Gardens.

Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463
www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com