John Stokes

1927 - 2023

John Thomas Stokes Jr. passed away on February 7th, 2023 at the age of 95. John was born to Mary Stokes nee Curtis and John T. Stokes Sr. on September 10, 1927, in Baltimore, MD. In 1946 John enlisted into the army at the age of 18. He was serving in a segregated all Black unit in the USA when he sent a letter to General (at the time) Dwight Eisenhower, asking to be sent overseas. He then was the only man from his unit to receive orders to join the Japanese occupation troops. He served three years before receiving an honorable discharge. John attended Howard University in Washington, DC where he studied History and then moved to New York City to attend NYU Law School for a year. That's where he met his future wife and married Mary Maranville in 1957 at the Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village. They had 3 children, Katherine, David, and Gregory. He was manager of the social security office in Harlem until 1981, when he received a promotion to district manager of Ulster county in the Kingston NY office and moved to Woodstock. He worked there until he retired in 1991. He was still active well into his retirement. He and Mary traveled in their early retirement, to Europe and most notably to Thailand. John always had a passion for acting, bridge, and playing the piano. During his retirement he joined a senior acting group called Holly's Comets and taught bridge at the community center. These passions always took second place to politics, which was his true religion. As a youth he dreamed of being president of the United States, which translated into a life-long passion for American History and biographies of former presidents. One of his happiest moments was the 2008 election of Barack Obama. Unfortunately, those years were followed by four years when he vowed to live long enough to see Trump leave office. He received his wish.John was loved and respected by many and is predeceased by his sisters Viola Francis and Gladys Cook. He is survived by his wife Mary Stokes, his 3 children Katherine Stokes (Brian Curtis), David Stokes (Kathleen Simpson), and Gregory Stokes (Elizabeth Lader), and his 4 grandchildren Erin Stokes, Rachel Curtis, Alexander Stokes, and Langston Curtis. A private service will be held for the family. https://www.lastingmemories.com/john-thomas-stokes