John Whitney Ormsby Jr.

1927 - 2024

John Whitney Ormsby Jr.

May 7, 1927 - March 3, 2024

Sacramento, California - John W. Ormsby, Jr. passed peacefully at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, California on March 3, 2024 at the age of 96. The son of John Whitney Ormsby and Davie Frances Ormsby (nee Robinson), he was a 3rd generation native Californian and a descendant of two Revolutionary War officers. An avid genealogist, John found ties to the Sackett pioneering family and earlier ancestors in the wild frontier of early Vermont and Maine, back further to Lincolnshire, England from where a forefather immigrated to America in the 1630s.

John was raised on farms outside of Tracy, CA. During WWII, he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and was trained as an electronics technician. Following his discharge, he moved into an apartment building in Sacramento, where four young ladies from Michigan also shared an apartment. He went on to marry one of them, Alvina Rose Schoenborn, on June 25, 1949 and subsequently had five children. With their young family, John and Alvina enjoyed many cross-country trips to Alvina's family farm in Michigan, as well as Washington DC and Alaska.

Specializing in Radar Systems, John worked at the Sacramento Signal Depot (later Army Depot) for over 30 years, making many lifelong friends. His work required him to travel throughout the USA & to both England and Germany. After the Depot, he worked as a consultant for a defense contractor. This took him to the Pentagon & to both Japan and South Korea, where Alvina visited. Following his retirement, John & Alvina continued to travel to Germany, Austria and Switzerland and, in later years, did bus excursions to Lake Tahoe.

John had many hobbies & was a master of all trades including electrical, mechanical, construction. He built two boats, a camper, furniture/cabinetry, and could repair just about anything. He built his own computer before they were widely available, and remained computer savvy to the end of his life.

From the 1960s, John and Alvina were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where John served as head usher. He was an active member of American Legion Post 608. Both he and Alvina were avid Sacramento Kings fans, attending many games.

John and Alvina were married for 72 years until her death in 2022. John is survived by children Sharon Oster, Sandra Wheeler (Tony), John W. Ormsby III (Marcia), Ron Ormsby (Kathy) & Joe Ormsby (Gillian), 11 grandsons, 7 great-grandchildren, his sisters Louella Sexsmith & Jeanne Ormsby, sisters-in-law Leslie Ormsby, Rosemary Jorgensen & Betty Schoenborn, numerous cousins, nieces & nephews and by his caregiver, Ema Ranadi, who provided exceptional care during his last months. He was predeceased by his brother Tom Ormsby.

A Rosary is scheduled for March 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home in Sacramento. The family welcomes friends beforehand beginning at 5:00. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on March 20, 2024 at 10:30 AM. Burial services will be private.