John Alexander Sutherland Jr.

July 6, 1929 - April 16, 2023

Obituary

John Alexander Sutherland Jr. age 93, of Kent/Milton, WA, passed away on April 16, 2023. We know he is home with his Savior Jesus Christ. This gives our family and those that share his faith great joy and hope. Throughout his life, John Jr. sought to serve his Lord and Savior and was an avid student of the Bible. John Jr. was born in Bend, Oregon on July 6, 1929 to Marvel and John Alexander Sutherland, Sr. He met Ruth Adeline McGill at a Hinson Memorial Baptist Church Youth Group function in the Spring of 1947. They married on December 21, 1951. John attended the University of Washington on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He graduated and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy in 1952. After completing his tour in Korea on the USS Talladega, he reported to the Navy base at Tongue Point in Astoria, Oregon — The Mouth of the Columbia. Their first child, Elizabeth Irene, was born at Tongue Point. In 1955, John Jr. resigned his commission in the Navy and the family moved to Portland, Oregon – back to their roots. Their second child, Louise Marie, was born in 1957. After moving to Beacon Hill and West Seattle, the family moved cross country to Ohio and Minnesota where he worked with North American Aviation Co. and Honeywell Aerospace. Though expecting yet another child, a move was again necessary, so the family relocated in St. Paul, Minnesota.  In January 1965, John and Ruth were once again made proud parents with the birth of their son, John A. Sutherland III. The family returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1967 and in November 1972, John was hired at the Port of Seattle as the Supervisor of Electrical Systems at SeaTac airport. He retired in 1998 after 25 years of employment there. After his retirement from Port of Seattle, he kept teaching and tutoring in math, engineering, and other subjects for many years. Ruth and John were active in volunteering with the AWANA children’s ministry at their home church, Christ’s Church, in Federal Way. He was very proud of his Scottish heritage and enjoyed collecting genealogy information on his family tree.

One of 4 children, John Jr. was preceded in death by his younger brothers: Philip, George, & David. He is survived by his wife Ruth (over 71 years of marriage), two daughters Elizabeth Healey, Louise Vittitow, and son John Sutherland III, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and other loving family and friends. John Jr. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ’s Church at 941 S Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98003. Reception to follow.

Inurnment with Military Honors will be at Tahoma National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042. (In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ’s Church in Federal Way https://www.ccfw.org/ or The Gideons International https://www.gideons.org/

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John A Sutherland III
John A Sutherland III
10 months ago

Love you Dad!

Carrie Hewitt
Carrie Hewitt
10 months ago

What an Amazing man!! His smile and always brightening others up with his loving warm greetings will forever be treasured. His warmth of Love from the Lord was always present!! He will truly be missed but we shall reunite again in the presence of our Lord!!
Sending tons of Love & Aloha to all the family!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏

Jan Pearson
Jan Pearson
10 months ago

Alan and I send our condolences to John and Mary and all the family.