JOHN RICHARD WITHEY

Mr. Withey was one of my favorite teachers at JTHS. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing.

God was running low on teacher and needed a good one..

There is never a time too long past someones death to say I am sorry.
I can see Mr Withey in his classroom, hear his keen sense of humor as well as his ability to put students in place so the learning can go on. Prayers to you Mrs. Withey.

Just found this site this evening and although I knew about Mr. Withey's passing wanted to say I was so sorry to hear of his death. He was a great teacher and I know he will be missed by many.

Mr. Withey was our class advisor (JTHS Class of '84). I remember as freshmen he was burdoned with a class of about 25...all boys! Not only did Mr. Withey handle us, he did so with a dry sense of humor, wit, and class. I have thought of him often over the past few years and truly regret the fact that I never looked him up even though I lived very close (Orlando). Thank you Mr. Withey and God Bless.

So sorry to hear. I recall Mr. Withey as a passionate teacher who managed to spark an interest in minerals within many many highly distracted teenagers, myself included. His contribution along with Mrs. Withey's to Jefferson Township High School will always be fondly remembered.

I am so sorry to hear this very sad news. Mr. Withey was a wonderful teacher with with a great passion for his work. His enthusiasm was contagious. I had the great pleasure of going on the field trip to the Franklin Mineral Museum three times. Once as his student and twice as the teacher's assistant. He believed in his students and was always willing to share his knowledge and answer questions. He will be greatly missed. My deepest sympothy goes out to his family and frinds. God has taken a great man. May he find a great rock pile filled with treasures in the sky.

John will be greatly missed here at the district office of Flagler County Schools where he directed the daily operation of the Earth Wonders Museum. I was continually amazed at the energy, determination and devotion he put forth to the create the museum and keep it running smoothly. He was an inspiration to myself and others who know how hard he worked. Every person I've met in my life time I learn something from and from John I learned to never give up on your dream. It was an honor to work with John Withey, may he rest in peace.

I'm so sorry to hear this very sad news. I have been searching for Mr. Withey as long as their has been an internet with no luck. He was the most thoughtful, caring teacher I have ever known. I am so disappointed that I could not tell him in person. I will always be grateful for his kindness. To the best teacher there ever was, who never gave up on me. The world will miss you.

As a member of the Tomoka Rock & Mineral Club and the Faceting Guild I had talked to John on several occasions and always came away with a sense of awe and respect for the knowledge he had and his unselfish desire to pass that knowledge on to others. John will be missed by all for his great gift of excitement and passion for the mineral world and his great understanding of faceting and the beauty we can make from "his" mineral world. I know he will be continuing his passions with those already departed. John is a man for all seasons whose thoughts and ideals will last for eternity.

I was so sorry to hear this sad news. I had the good fortune to first meet Mr. Withey as my science teacher. He was the best. I have also known him through the years as close friends of my parents. My deepest sympathy and condolences for this tragic loss.

I too was fortunate enough to have Mr Withey as my science teacher at Jefferson. I remember missing the class trip to the mineral mines because of the death of my grandfather and Mr. Withey would walk by my desk and lay a mineral on it and tell me what page to find it on our text books.

RIP Mr. Withey...

I was fortunate enough to have Mr Withey was my science teacher at Jefferson. He was a wonderful, fun teacher who kept my interest in a subject I NEVER had any interest in before. To this day (I'm 37 now), I remember4 his favorite rock: Feldspar. Rest in peach, Mr. Withey. You are remembered fondly!

May your heart soon be filled with the wonderful memories of the joyful times you and John shared together as you celebrate a life well lived. John gave so much to our School District and our students. He inspired everyone with his knowledge and enthusiam. He touched so many lives. He will be greatly missed. I will keep you and John in my prayers.

Dear Aunt Juliska,
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.
May the memories of your wonderful years together bring you comfort and peace.
Etelka and her family

Kedves Juliska!
Mély fájdalmadban osztozunk. Szeretettel búcsúzunk kedves férjedtol.
Etelka és családja

I graduated from JTHS in 1988 and had the pleasure of having Mr. Withey as my science teacher. He was a wonderful teacher and kind person - his enthusiasm and love of rocks I will never forget! I just want to express that my thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends at this time... God bless and may he rest in peace.

I graduated from JTHS in 1986 and Mr. Withey was my science teacher. When I talk about the many teachers that made a positive impact in my life Mr. Withey was certainly at the top of my list. I too had a love of rocks, the more shiney the better (now diamonds have topped my rock list!) Just recently when cleaning out the attic at my mom's house I found an egg crate filled with my rocks and minerals from my class trip.. still labled. He was an awesome person and hearing the news of his passing makes me think of the many fun times I had in his class, on his class trips and just joking around with him at school. He will be sadly missed. Reading about what he went on to do after JTHS makes me feel extremely proud to have had the honor of knowing him and having him as a teacher. He obviously moved on to greater accomplishments. If I am ever in Bunnell, I will make it a point to stop at the museum. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sorrowful time. I will always have fond memories of Mr. Withey may he rest in peace.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort. Mr. Withey was one of my teachers at JTHS. He was a sweet man and was always firm but gentle. I enjoyed his class. Rest in Peace Mr. Withey.

Over the past weekend, we lost one of our senior members and a dear friend, John Withey. With news of his massive stroke at the set-up of the TGMS annual show, our prayers that day couldn’t impede God’s plan for John that evening. The following morning the grave news that opened the show would mark a day we won’t forget. But as John would have wished the 39th annual TGMS show went on despite several hitches and problems only John could have easily resolved. But the vendors and fellow society members pulled together for John’s sake and carried on the tasks with a heavy heart. The interested on-lookers and fellow hobbyists kept all of us at the show busy and our feelings intact. Sunday evening, TGMS members broke down the show, relieved the weekend had past only to find our sadness catching up with us.
In all the sadness, our family tried to resolve ourselves to remembering all the special moments that we shared with John Withey. I’m sure we’re not the only ones as John has touched so many that fond remembrances would fill up pages. We have not known John as long as others; but time has no bearing on the impact one leaves behind. When my children first joined the club and set out to volunteer, John was the person who entrusted them to show and to teach others about fluorescent rocks and minerals. He made them feel so important with his favorite display. My children would talk about how they would try to learn as much as they could from John, because he was such a wealth of information. A year and half ago, John accomplished one of his dreams and opened up "Earth Wonders Geological Museum" free to the public. He included my children in his grand opening and gave them the responsibility of the Fluorescent Mineral Display room that was his pride and joy. It was one of John’s happiest days. The beaming smile showed how much he had achieved. With Julianna by his side, we watched the honor bestowed to John with an award given by the Flagler County Schools. For the past 3 years, John has provided Erica & Mitch with knowledge, friendship and confidence; believing the art of rockhounding needed to be passed onto our young children. Last week at the museum, John expressed how you can rockhound all your life, and still find something amazing as he referred to a one-of-a-kind fluorescent mineral. Thank you John for all that you have given to others and Thank you Julianna for sharing him with us. From the Nathan family, we extend our deepest sympathy to the entire Withey Family. God bless.

From the Tomoka Faceters Guild to Juliana: Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May the memories of your 40 wonderful years together bring you comfort and peace.
John was a giant in his field and had earned our deep respect and admiration. Please know we will miss both his professionalism and his kind and giving spirit.

I was a teacher of Chemistry for 5 yrs. (early 70's) in the Jefferson Township High School Science Dept. where John taught Earth Science. I very much appreciated John's dedication to geology and his students.
My prayers are with Julianna, and family, as she, and they, place all in God's Hands.

May God embrace you and allow you to study the universe.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Withey when I stopped into the Geological Museum in Bunnell. He was so friendly and so enthusiastic about his amazing rock collection. Then I was lucky enough to be an assistant for a school field trip to the Geological Museum. Again, I was so amazed at his life and how willing he was to share all of his collection, his knowledge and his excitement with everyone in our community. Even though I may not have known Mr. Withey well, the times I did get to spend speaking with him were so wonderful and I am so sad to hear of his passing. He was an amazing asset to our community. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. He was a really wonderful person. I am thankful that I got to meet him, and thankful that all the children were able to learn from his life.

Dear J. W.
You will be greatly missed. You were a great teacher, and friend. May you find a great rock pile to collect some good things.
Yours, Sil & Helen

I will miss your friendship, guidance and all the knowledge you so willingly imparted to me. Rest my friend - it is well earned.