Johnny Lee "John" Warner

Johnny (John) Warner, 79, died peacefully in his sleep Oct. 2, 2025, at his residence in Lemon Cove, Calif. Born April 20, 1946, in Weston, W.VA, he was the son of John and June (Montgomery) Warner. Johnny was raised in Geneva, Ohio, and married Linda Wilkins on Nov. 13, 1965, while serving in the US Navy. The couple would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in November. An avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, Johnny rarely passed by a for sale sign perched in front of a vehicle. He loved riding his Harley and would often ride for miles in the foothills near his home. In earlier years, he and his wife traveled many miles by motorcycle in Southern California, and once took a trip to Victoria, B.C., Canada.
In 1994, Johnny earned his private pilot's license. He owned and enjoyed flying various types of airplanes until his retirement in 2006. For many years, Johnny was employed in the ship building industry in San Diego, Calif. He then moved back to Ohio and was employed for 10 years at RMI in Ashtabula. In 1984, he moved back to California and was employed by Rockwell International as a toolmaker building the B1 bomber in Palmdale. He went on to work for Boeing as a toolmaker, building and retrofitting the Space Shuttles, and later was employed by Aeronautical Systems in Adelanto, Calif., as a maintenance mechanic. Survivors include his wife, Linda; son, John of Carolina, W.Va.; a daughter, Nancy Padjan and husband, Jeff, of Lemoore, Calif.; grandchildren, Savana Kerr and husband, Tyler, of West Bountiful, Utah, Leandra Vernon, Lemoore, Calif., and Noah Vernon and wife, Naomi, of Lemoore, Calif. Also surviving him are his siblings, Kanda Beseda and husband, Kenny, Honea Path, South Carolina; Sandy VanKula, Ashtabula, Ohio; Tim Warner and wife, Pat, Geneva, Ohio; Matt Warner, Jefferson, Ohio; Brenda Bernard and husband, John, Kinsman, Ohio; Lucy Ames and husband, Rick, Geneva, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, a son, Ron, grandson, Johnny, and brother, Mark, preceded him in death.