John L. McVittie

1926 - 2007

John L. McVittie went to be with his Lord on Friday, April 6, 2007, at the age of 80. He had battled prostate cancer since 1989 but finally succumbed to neuroendocrine cancer after a brief illness. He spent his last few days at his Ventura home surrounded by his family, a large circle of close friends, pastors, his special nurse Kathy and his exceptional caregiver Donna.

John was a humble man who loved God, family, church, golf and a good peanut butter sandwich (with butter). He always looked on the bright side of any situation and invested heavily in people, mentoring and befriending them where he could. His family is humbled by the number of people who have stopped to tell us how John touched their lives.

John was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Oct. 4, 1926, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from McGill University in 1949. While at Mcgill, he was active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, where he met his wife, Mabel. They were married in 1951. In 1954 John and Mabel decided to move to California and went to Glendale, where John was employed by a general building contractor. While in Glendale, they were very active at Glendale Presbyterian Church.

In 1960 they moved to Ventura, where John worked briefly for a general building contractor before deciding in 1963 to strike out on his own and form McGall Constructors. During the early years, John focused on work at Naval Air Station Point Mugu and Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme but gradually branched out into commercial buildings, affordable housing and public buildings including work at Ventura College (Gutherie Hall, arts building and renovating the unstable cafeteria) and several large commercial buildings at the Ventura Marina. John retired from McGall Constructors in 1992. He served on the City of Ventura Construction Appeals Board and was also a past president of the Ventura County Contractor's Association.

In 1964 John and Mabel became members of Ventura Missionary Church (VMC), where he found an outlet for his lifelong desire to serve God and people. At VMC, John served as a trustee, held various positions on the missions board, church board chairman and senior council. He was involved as a secretary of the Missionary Church Western District for more than 20 years and was the longest -erving member of the Stewardship Development Foundation. He was actively involved in both seeding new churches and in the construction of VMC. A small road to the east of VMC is named in his honor.

John was an active member of the Saticoy Country Club, where he had been a member since 1962. He loved his Tuesday afternoon game of golf, which rapidly grew to more games after his retirement. His goal was always to shoot his age. He loved to encourage others to take up the game of golf and was last year's president of the Tri-County Seniors.

John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mabel; son, Thom; daughter, Ellie Fisher (husband Gerry) and their children, Elizabeth Girard (husband Werner), Katie Guenther (husband Dustin), Doug, Margie and John Fisher; and first great-grandson, Rand Girard, with whom he co-celebrated his 80th birthday. He is also survived by his younger brother, Hugh (wife Kay) of Rigetown, Ontario, Canada, with two sons and five grandchildren.

A private burial will be held at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. A time of celebration will follow at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 at Ventura Missionary Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association hospice, Wycliffe Bible Translators or Royal Family Kids Camp.

Assisting the family with their arrangements is Charles Carroll funeral Home, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura, CA 93003; phone 805-642-8134.