John Larmon Salisbury, 86, died peacefully on June 17, 2012. John was born April 15, 1926 to Manford and Anna Salisbury near Pollock, Missouri. His mother died when he and his twin sister Laveda were two years old, so John was raised thereafter by his father, brothers and sisters, and several kind aunts. John volunteered for the US Army Air Forces and was inducted August 1944 after graduation from Northeast High School in Kansas City, MO.
John trained as ground mechanic for B-17 aircraft at Amarillo Army Air Field, Texas, then received aircrew and gunnery training as flight engineer for the B-17 at Lowry Army Air Field, Colorado. He transitioned to aircrew training for the B-29 aircraft at Barksdale Army Air Field, Louisiana. He was awaiting orders for overseas duty when the conflict ended. John deeply appreciated the decisions made that ended the war without continued combat.
After his discharge, John began building a career in real estate development and facility planning. He married Ruby Alice Gillespie on August 20, 1950 and together they made their home in Prairie Village, Kansas for over fifty years before Ruby’s death in March 2001. John earned his Architect’s Registration in the State of Missouri in 1962 and his college degree from UMKC in 1972. Their daughter Claire Rene was born in 1960 followed by a son, Clay Dean in 1962. John retired in 1999 from his career as an architect for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
John’s life was enriched by family and many friends throughout his life. John’s later years were graced by a special companion Mona Jean Johnson-Boswell, residing at 7005 Andover Drive, Amarillo, TX, with whom he enjoyed several years of travel, laughter, and love. Her love and care for John helped make his later years rich in experiences and connection with her children Vicki and Joseph and three grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his mother in 1928, his father in 1947 and his wife Ruby in 2001. He was also preceded by brothers Ora, Virgil, Basil and Eldon Salisbury and sisters Olive Alexander and Edna Ruth Tucker.
John is survived by his daughter Claire Rene Ward and husband Scott of Lenexa, KS, by his son Clay Dean Salisbury and wife Marian and by his grandchildren Evan Bryce Salisbury, Yvonne Rene Salisbury, Owen Basil Salisbury and Avery Oliver Salisbury, all of Amarillo, TX. Other survivors include sisters Maureta Carder and Laveda Francis Bush and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family expresses their deep appreciation to the facility and staff members of Odyssey Hospice in Amarillo, TX whose care made his last days comfortable and peaceful.
John’s funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 2:00pm at the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO. A visitation will begin one hour prior to his service. Memorials are suggested to the Unionville Cemetery and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.
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