John Davis Velte

Velte, John Davis
Jan. 11, 1926 - Jun. 6, 2015
John Davis Mobray Velte was born and spent the first 10 years of his life in Lahore, India (now Pakistan), son of Dr. F.M. Velte and Marjorie Davis Velte, Presbyterian teaching missionaries at Forman Christian College. He lived in Washington D.C. after his arrival in the U.S., where he attended the Sidwell Friends School, and then Lexington High School in VA. After a term at Virginia Military Institute, John entered the U.S. Navy, and served as an aerial photographer. After the war, he entered Princeton University, working summers building houses for a contractor in Pittsfield, MA, to augment the GI Bill, graduating as a mechanical engineer in 1950. After college, John worked at General Aniline in Rennselaer, NY, then Willy's Overland in Toledo, Ohio. He began working for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan in 1955, retiring as Chief Chassis Engineer. He and his wife Evangeline (Van) retired to Sarasota, FL, spending the summers in the Adirondack Mountains at their home on Silver Bay, Lake George, NY. After 40 years of marriage, Van died of cancer in 1991, and her ashes were scattered at the Lake George house; near to the steps where he first met her. John was also predeceased by his daughters Barbara Leifer of Sarasota, FL, and Alison Grant of Fairfield, CT.
John leaves behind his second wife, Mary Louise Bell, of Sarasota, FL, her daughter Lynda Mettee (Mike) of Pittsburgh, PA, two sisters, Lois Carstens of Charlottesville, VA and Marguerite Hasbrouck of Wellesley Hills, MA, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his daughter Carolyn Berthelsen of Sarasota, FL, his son John Velte (Sherri) of Evergreen, CO, and seven beloved grandchildren: Jonathan Leifer, Andrew Berthelsen, Megan Grant, Noelle Mettee, Michael Grant, Hannah Velte and Davis Velte. John was a brilliant man with a quick wit. He was also an award winning photographer, a voracious reader and an avid boater. A very generous man, he supported many charities. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his name to the Salvation Army, the Nature Conservancy or Tidewell Hospice of Sarasota, FL. National Cremation & Burial Society, Sarasota, FL is in charge of arrangements.