Laurence John Beltman, Jr., known to his friends as John, passed away August 3rd 2025 in Pensacola, Fl. John was a proud Veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as an In-Flight Technician, and an engineer for the P3 Orion, the pride of his working years, on which he had thousands of flight hours.
John was a faithful servant of God, who loved Jesus, his family, friends, and everyone he met with a radiant heart that could only have been crafted by Jesus Himself. John always had a kind word, a helping hand, or an ear and a hug for anyone who needed it, was quick to celebrate and commend people for their accomplishments, or encourage them in their times of struggle, and gave of himself whenever called upon to do so.
In his retirement, John lent his talents to various humanitarian projects and volunteered for the Parks' Service, where his warmth was extended to everyone who met him. He also briefly got to fulfil his life-long dreams of "living in a van down by the river" in a van that he masterfully converted to an RV and used to pull his shiny new trailer back and forth to working on his homestead, which was his other life-long dream.
John is survived by his beautiful wife Karen, his son's Jimmy, Gerry, Andrew and Paul, his daughter Angela, his grandchildren Karla, Austin, Armando, Tyler, Thomas and Eli, and great-grandchildren Nathan, Kayce and Arely, as well as by his siblings Wayne, Helene, Jessie, Henry, Keith, Betsy, Suzanne, his siblings' spouses and their children, all of whom he loved with his whole heart. John was preceded in death by his parents, Thera May and Laurence Beltman, Sr., and his sister Janet.
He trusted God in all things, and was truly a fulfilled man. John was cremated and a celebration of life will follow at a later date with family. Some of his ashes were interred at his parents' grave, and some were spread at his many various "favorite" bodies of water. If you wish to spend time with his remains, or to honor him, you can do so at any of the many beautiful water-side places that you are aware that he was fond of. His spirit will always be there. His final thoughts of you were likely a prayer that God bless and keep you, as his last words in any conversation usually resembled that wish.
*Please do not send flowers or gifts, if you feel so compelled, you can donate to any charity or church, he would be quite honored that way