JOHN PASHAYAN

John passed away at home on Sunday, March 6, 2011, at the age of 93. He was surrounded by his loving family. John was born on July 10, 1917, in Fresno Ca. to Sahag and Alice Pashayan. John was the second youngest of his seven brothers and sisters. Life for the family was difficult and challenging. John at the age of five and older brother Jake, would sell newspapers until 10:00 o'clock at night, to earn money for the family. John's spot was in front of Old Bank of Italy. After selling the papers he and Jake would go to Coney Island and buy a hotdog for five cents and split it and Jake would always make sure his little brother would get the bigger share. John would never forget this memory. John was raised with such a strong work ethic that in later life, it would make him the successful business man he became. John graduated from Fresno Tech and went to work at Ace Service working for his family. In 1940 John met Queen, the love of his life at a picnic in Kingsburg. Through intermediaries he went to Queen's house in Bowles, where he presented himself to Queen's family for approval. Seventy years of marriage later, it took his passing to separate them. However, World War II did separate them for awhile. Two years and four months would pass before they would lay eyes upon each other again. John was discharged from the U.S. Navy on October 14, 1945. The next sixty-six years they would be inseparable. John had joined the U.S. Navy after learning his brother Jake had joined. John was then sent to Texas to become a Radio Man after four months of intensive training, he earned the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. He then shipped out of San Diego and sailed to Pearl Harbor for deployment in the Pacific. John was on the ship USS AP 46. His ship shot down three enemy aircraft and were involved in many of the major battles in the Pacific. John would want this footnote added. In one of the battles, his ship was strafed and his best friend Goldie died in his arms on his 21 birthday, and that event never left him, whenever he reminisced about The War. He was very proud to have been a World War Two veteran. After returning from the War, his brother Charles offered he and Jake an opportunity to buy into the family business. While working he was approached by Mr. Cooper of Cooper's Department store to join the Kiwanis Club. Until then no other Armenian had joined. John was sponsored by Mr. Cooper and John became a member. When he had finished with the Kiwanis Club he became the Vice President, the President and then a regional Lieutenant Governor of California. Because of his successful efforts, he was asked to become the Kiwanis President of California but he declined this great honor because of the need to run the family business daily affairs. He was also the Boy's Scout Troop leader of # 25 and loved instructing the boys about the outdoors. He attained the position of Vice President of Ace Service and Trans-State Wholesale Dist. after years of hard work John retired from the businesses in 1980. At the time of his retirement the family business had twelve retail stores and over two hundred employees. John and Queen also traveled all over the world, but John's favorite place was his trip to Armenia. John is preceded in death by his brother's Charles, Sark, Jake, and Richard; and his sister, Zee Pashayan Garabedian. He is survived by Queen, his loving wife; his two sons and their wives Erica, and Rosie; four grandchildren, Mariam, Joscelyne, David Jr., and Johnny Jake; and four great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Wildrose Funeral Home, 916 E. Divisadero in Fresno on Thursday, March 10, 2011, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul Armenian Church on Dakota and First Street on Friday, March 11, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. Donations may be made to the Fresno Rescue Mission; or St. Paul Armenian Church.