This is to announce the homegoing of John A. Totten, Jr. He was born September 20, 1916 to John A. Totten and Mary James Totten, and he departed this life on Sunday, January 9, 2011.
John was a lifelong resident of Washington County, VA and retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was an Army Air Corps veteran who served his country with honor during WWII. During his service, John was a flight instructor. He served in several campaigns, including those in India, Central Burma, and China and received several decorations, including the Air Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific with four battle stars, and the Victory Medal.
At home, John was truly an outdoorsman. He was a hunter and fisherman and loved spending summers at his cabin on South Holston Lake. He planted and nurtured beautiful gardens and enjoyed sharing the harvest with neighbors and friends. John was an excellent golfer who spent countless days on local golf courses; he was a serious competitor and won many trophies over the years. It was on the golf courses and in the club houses that John developed life-long friendships with fellow golf enthusiasts.
John was a long-time member of Abingdon Baptist Church. He loved his family and was a true gentleman.
John was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Happy Kate Totten; his sister, Gertrude T. Smith; and his brothers, Arthur Totten and Walter Totten.
Survivors include his daughter, Carol Totten Bradley and husband Larry of Glade Spring; grandchildren Leisa Bradley Gruenewald and husband Bruce of Falls Church, VA, and John T. Bradley and wife Mary of Knoxville, TN; and one great-grandson, A.J. Gruenewald of Falls Church.
The funeral and entombment service for John A. Totten, Jr. will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 13, 2011, at the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens with the Rev. Ellie Scofield officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be John's golfing buddies.
The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abingdon Baptist Church, 361 West Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia 24210.