John Leroy Willoughby passed away Oct. 4, 2016, at University of Washington Hospital in Seattle at the age of 82.
John was born June 7, 1934, in Fort Morgan, Colo., to Joseph Lloyd and Louis Mae Willoughby.
His family moved to Empire, Ore., in 1935 and he graduated from Empire High School in 1952. He joined the United States Navy in 1954 and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (one star), Vietnam Campaign Medal, six good conduct medals and a Navy Achievement and National Defense Service Medal. He retired from the Navy Nov. 2, 1978.
John married Clara (who preceded him in death) and they had one daughter together. Deborah May was born Dec. 2, 1959, in San Diego, Calif. Clara also had two other daughters she brought into that marriage: Ruby Ingram and Linda DeVito.
John married his soulmate Joyce (who preceded him in death) Aug. 12, 1966, in Washington D.C. His son John Lloyd was born at Fort Belvoir, Va., May 16, 1967; his daughter Lorraine Dee Gustafson was born at Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C., and his youngest daughter Donna Ann McDaniel was born at Gold Beach, Ore., Jan. 27, 1970.
The family moved to Oak Harbor, where he was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island in 1975.
He retired from the Navy in Oak Harbor Nov. 2, 1978. He and Joyce continued to raise their children on the island. John was an active member of the Oak Harbor Southern Baptist Church and began working there as the full-time custodian in 1977 and retired fully in 2003.
John enjoyed long drives, boating, crabbing, fishing, hunting, his friends and, most especially, his family.
He is survived by his step-daughters Ruby Ingram of Florida and Linda DeVito of Florida; his children, Deborah (Debbie) Rowley (Kenny) of Boynton Beach, Fla., John (Skip) Willoughby (Sarah) of Yellowstone, Wyo., Lorraine (Lori) Gustafson (James) of Covington, Wash., and Donna McDaniel (Colin) of Port Orchard, Wash.; grandchildren, Josh, Jade, Tonya, Cody, Asher, Taylor, Jamie, Nicole, Brittney, Cierra, Akira, Mya, Stephanie, Josh, Zak, Nicolas, Alissa, Ashley, Sami and Sean; great-grandchildren Kai, Avery, Dustin and Kailani; step-brother Dennis Graham of Milwaukie, Ore., and Candice Sanders of Portland, Ore.; a great-nephew Lance Boetel of Oregon; and a great-niece Erin Sanders of Seattle, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father Louie May and Joseph Lloyd Willoughby; brothers Melvin and Gerald Willoughby; sister MaryAnn Sanders; nephew Michael John; and his beloved wife Joyce Willoughby.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday Oct. 15, at the Oak Harbor Southern Baptist Church in Oak Harbor.
Remembrances may be sent to Oak Harbor Southern Baptist Church 50 SW 6th Avenue, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
