John Edward Vannoy, 90

John Edward Vannoy, 90, of Lake Saint Louis, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Peters.  He was born on December 19, 1921, at Harrogate, Tennessee, a son of James A. and Dossie (Bray) Vannoy.

He graduated from Green Ridge High School and received a four-year degree in Agriculture Farming from the University of Missouri Extension.  John served his country valiantly during World War II, and was one of Missouri's last Pearl Harbor Survivors. After serving on the USS Phoenix at Pearl Harbor, John went on to serve on one of most decorated ships of the Pacific theatre, the USS Cabot. John was in charge of the 4th division, where he many times sustained the attack of Japanese Kamikaze's.

On May 5, 1945, in Green Ridge, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Eileen Maude Hampton, who preceded him in death on April 9, 2008.  After serving in World War II, John and Eileen left the Navy in 1946, to go back to their home in the Cole Camp, Missouri community to farm, while Eileen taught school for almost 37 years. John will be best remembered for his enduring kindheartedness towards all people, his immense generosity to those in need and his dedication and involvement with his two grandsons; Jeffery D. and John M. Vannoy, whom  he and Eileen dedicated their life to.

He is survived by:  one brother, Carl Vannoy of Concordia;
his two grandsons, Colonel John M. Vannoy and his wife Amy of Carlisle, PA, and Jeffery D. Vannoy and his wife Angela of Lake St. Louis;
five great-grandchildren, Karson G. Vannoy, Kolton D. Vannoy, Makayla G. Vannoy, Emily J. Vannoy, and Gavin M. Vannoy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Dossie Vannoy, his wife of 63 years, Eileen, his only son, R. Kent Vannoy in 2002, and three brothers, Mack Vannoy, Paul Vannoy, and Everett Vannoy.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2012, at Antioch Baptist Church, Manila, with  Pastor Rick Dement officiating.  Burial will be in Antioch Baptist Cemetery, Manila.

The family will receive friends from 4 - 6 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2012, at the Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be given to Military Ministry in Newport News, VA, in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be John Vannoy, Jeffery Vannoy, David Kaiser, Richard Hampton, Rick Weymuth, and Dale Harms.

Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Larue, Carl Vannoy, Ryland Logan, and Kenneth Harms.