John B. Ricketts, Jr.

John Blaine Ricketts, Jr., died suddenly on April 24, 2008, at Careage of Whidbey, Coupeville, at age 87. He was born June 13, 1920 in Philadelphia to John Blaine Ricketts and Gertrude (Langhorne) Ricketts.

John spent his childhood in Yeadon, Penn., a suburb of Philadelphia, where he graduated from Yeadon High School. His claim to fame during this period was pitching a no-hitter for the Yeadon High School baseball team.

Duke University in Durham, N.C., was his next stop, where he majored in mechanical engineering, played intramural basketball and worked hard. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1943.

As it was wartime, Jack and many of his classmates, under an agreement with the U.S. Navy, were allowed to finish college. Jack received his commission as an Ensign in the Navy and began active military service. He achieved the rank of lieutenant and was assigned as Senior Grade Officer aboard destroyers in the Pacific until his discharge in 1946. Jack remained in the Naval Reserve until 1956.

Following the war, Jack joined E.I. DuPont DeNemours in research and development, followed by six years with Sylvania Avionics and then many years with Electronics Communications, Inc, General Electric, Co., Radiation, Inc, and Harris Corporation. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts, had several patent disclosures, and was an author of many technical articles.

Jack enjoyed all sports, especially tennis, basketball, bicycling and golf. In 1944, he married Judy Turner, and they had two sons, John III and James. Sadly, his wife died in 1974 of ALS. While working at Harris in Melbourne, Fla., he was part of group who would meet at the tennis courts after work to play doubles. There he met another avid tennis player, Pat Collier, and in 1978, they were married. They both enjoyed the outdoors and bicycled in England, Ireland, and Nova Scotia.

In 1997, when it became apparent that Jack’s health was beginning to fade, Jack and Pat moved to Oak Harbor to be near Pat’s two daughters. They thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of Washington and most of all visits from six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Jack is survived by his wife Patricia at the family home Oak Harbor; by two sons, John B. Ricketts III of Worchester, Mass., and James Ricketts of Gainesville, Fla., and four stepchildren: Pat Lamont and Colleen Johnson, both of Oak Harbor, Barry Miller of Snohomish, and Sharon Metcalf of Salem, Va.

Jack requested no formal funeral services be conducted. A family memorial will be celebrated at a later date. Cremation was held with family burial. The family would like to thank Careage of Whidbey for the wonderful care they provided to Jack. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.