John R. Emmons, Sr.

John R. Emmons, Sr., 88, of Springfield died Tuesday, September 06, 2016. He was born November 6, 1927 in Springfield the son of Fred B. and Mamie (Swenberg) Emmons. John was a U.S. Army Veteran, retired from Rockway School with twenty-one years of service and was a member of the Springfield East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law Rick and Karlana Emmons of Urbana; one sister Emma Emmons of Springfield; eight grandchildren Jennie, Jammie, Jessica, John Richard II, Michelle, Annie, Kalleen and Sarrah; numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, including Sheila Henson whom he loved as a granddaughter; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law that he loved as his own Jim (Sharon) Rice, Cindy Rice and Nancy Paden; and sister-in-law Shirley Brown (Billy Dutton). He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years Donna Jean Rice Emmons in 2012; his daughter Melinda Jean Emmons; five brothers Fritz, Gilbert, Robert, Willard and Paul; three sisters Mary Martin, Mildred Cox and Virginia McFann. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 4:00PM in the Springfield East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses with Ron McConkey, a congregation elder officiating. Memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to the Springfield East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1601 Innisfallen Avenue, Springfield, OH 45506. The family is being served by the Richards, Raff & Dunbar Memorial Home. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.richardsraffanddunbar.com.