John Early Waltrip, III

John Early Waltrip III, 91, left this life on November 10, 2016.  Born in Lee Hall, Virginia on October 2, 1925 to John and Stella Waltrip, he was the oldest of two children.  John met the love his life, Lorimer Jacqueline Holzbach, in Willliamsburg, Virginia, while she was still in high school and he was working at Fort Eustis Army Post.  John enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard ship in the Pacific.  He returned to Williamsburg in 1946 after two and a half years of service, and John and “Jackie” were married on August 31, 1946 and settled in Lee Hall, Virginia, to raise their family.  While expecting their third child, John re-enlisted in the Navy and served during the Korean War, and he continued to serve his country through the end of the Vietnam War, retiring from the United States Navy in 1972.  During his long military career, John was stationed in Cape Hatteras, NC, Key West, FL, San Diego, CA, Port Hueneme, CA, Great Lakes Training Center, IL, Okinawa, Japan, Midway Island (2 tours) and was there for the filming of the movie, Mr. Roberts (John is in the jeep at the end of the refueling pier playing the part of a shore patrolman), Vietnam, and Korea (2 tours).  He was in the shore patrol, trained recruits at San Diego and Great Lakes, but his main tours were with the Seabees. After retiring from the Navy, John and Jackie returned to Lee Hall, Virginia and the family home.  John continued working in the Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia areas until moving to Green Cove Springs in 1981.  After settling in Green Cove Springs, John worked for Sun State Marine until finally retiring to manage a local mobile home park.  Both John and Jackie were active members of the VFW Post 1988, and John served as Post Commander. John is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Lorimer “Jackie” Waltrip, his children, Susan Pascual of Fernandina Beach, FL and John L. Waltrip of Riverhead, NY, brother, Herman S. Waltrip of Lee Hall, VA, and was predeceased in death by his son Richard R. Waltrip of Newport News, VA.  John also leaves behind five grandchildren; Daun Jolly of Fernandina Beach, FL, Ronald L. Jolly of Washington, DC, Heather Patrick of Callahan, FL, Ryan Waltrip of Chesapeake, VA, and Kimberly Poe of Newport News, VA and ten great-grandchildren. John loved his family and country, serving in three wars, and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.broadus-raines.com. Arrangements under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043, (904) 284-4000.