John Willard Dethridge

Loudon - Capt. John Willard Dethridge, Jr., passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025 in ATL, GA. He was born in Loudon, Tennessee to the late John Dethridge, Sr., and the late Vicie Brown Dethridge Wilkerson.

John was an All-State linebacker at Loudon HS and led the team to the State Championship his senior year. It was only fitting that John was inducted into the 2022 Class of the Loudon HS Hall of Fame.

John received a football scholarship to Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Health Education and Military Science. John was a 4-year letterman in football and he held the record for the longest interception for a touchdown in school history, a record that was eventually broken. After 50 years, John still ranks in the top ten.

John married Rebecca Moise (Grayson) and they had a son, Steven. Immediately after graduating from college, John and his young family headed off to Heidelberg, Germany for what would be the start of his military career. John immediately achieved the rank of Captain and had additional assignments on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea.

John attended a number of highly specialized training schools to include: Air Assault School, Airborne Training School and French Commando School. After his military career, John spent his civilian career in multiple roles in the Pest Control Industry in Atlanta, GA.

John's life was centered around discipline. His philosophy in life was that of a minimalist. Material things had absolutely zero meaning to him. What was important to him was his continuous search for knowledge. This aspect of his life showed up prominently in his Bible Study and in his Martial Arts teaching and training.

John taught and trained extensively earning multiple degree Black Belts in three different art forms/disciplines: Tai Chi, Taekwondo, and Wing Chun, practiced by the famous Bruce Lee.

John was preceded in death by his father, John Dethridge, Sr.; mother, Vicie Brown Dethridge Wilkerson; and sister, Angela Darlene Wilkerson.

John is survived by his son, Steven Dethridge (Connie); twin grandsons, Alexander and Benjamin Dethridge, Laurel, MD; brother, Greg Deathridge, Centreville, VA; niece, Taylor Deathridge Greene (Aaron) and great niece and nephews, Aya, Asé, and Ali Greene, Lilburn, GA; sister-in-law, Pamela B. Deathridge, Knoxville, TN; uncle, James Brown ( Sarah Jean), Philadelphia, TN; and several cousins.

The Family will hold a visitation on October 25, 2025 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at McGill Click Funerals and Cremations with a service to follow at 1:00pm.

In Lieu of Flowers, Donations be made to

Dunbar Rosenwald School Foundation Inc.

515 Steekee Street

Loudon, Tennessee 37774