Harold Eugene John

Mr. John, as he was affectionately called by generations of Sulphur (Washington) Elementary students, died Friday, Oct. 28 of natural causes after an overnight downturn in health. He was born July 4, 1915, the third of 3 sons, to William E. and Hattie (Hanabas) John in Lawton,Oklahoma. When he was six years old, the family moved to a farm near Walters where he graduated from Walters High School in 1932. He attended Cameron Junior College at Lawton for one year and then transferred to Central State University in Edmond in 1937 where he graduated with a B.S. Degree in History and Natural Science. He received his Master’s Degree in 1950; his thesis on the Oklahom" a Constitutional Convention included a personal interview with Alfalfa "Bill Murray. In the fall of 1937, he began a 44-year teaching career at Oologah as High School principal. He also taught at Whittaker State Orphan’s Home in Pryor. After World War II, Mr. John was an elementary principal in Sunnyside, Washington before coming to Sulphur. In 1941, Harold married Cleta L. Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cull Baker of Oologah. He had met and was Cleta’s High School Principal during his previous teaching position in Oologah. He was later to be Elementary Principal to his two children, Keith and Cheryl. Mr. John was teaching at Foyil in 1941 when the U.S. entered World War II. At the end of that school year, he went to work for DuPont for 18 months and then entered the U.S. Navy in October, 1943. He served 27 months at Pearl Harbor until the end of the war when he enjoyed telling that the Pearl Harbor Navymen shot off every form of ordinance they could find creating a huge all-night fireworks display. In 1948 he came to Sulphur where his brother Paul John was then Sulphur Times Democrat Publisher and he was (hired on the spot,) to be Principal at Washington Elementary School on Sulphur’s west side. He remained in his Principal role for 34-years until 1982, working two years beyond retirement age, when elementary students from Sulphur’s eastside Cameron Elementary School combined with Washington Elementary students at the present day Sulphur Elementary School. Harold and Cleta had two children William Keith John and Cheryl John Caldwell who were both born and graduated high school in Sulphur. While serving as Washington Elementary Principal, Mr. John was also president of the Murray County Teacher’s Association in 1966. He served two years as a member of the board of Directors of the east Central District of the Oklahoma Educators Association. He was a 55-year active member of the Sulphur Kiwanis Club and served as Kiwanis Club President in 1967. Mr. John was a member of the Sulphur United Methodist Church where he was actively involved in all phases of the church. attended until about a year ago when he could no longer attend. He was an avid sports fan and attended numerous Sulphur boys and girls athletic events. Late September 2011 he attended his last Sulphur High School athletic event, a Girls Softball championship game. "They need to see me there," he would often explain about his years worth of loyal attendance at football, basketball, baseball, and softball events plus others. While serving as Washington Elementary Principal, he also served 20 years as a Seasonal Ranger at Platt National Park, now Chickasaw National Recreational Area. He was one of the mounted Rangers who rode the park horseback for 4-5 years in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Mr. John remained true to his countryboy Walters roots and maintained a large vegetable and fruit garden at his home until three years ago. He enjoyed sharing the fresh produce with Sulphur residents and, when he was a Ranger, he befriended many return families visiting the park and shared fresh produce with them as well. "He was one of the best Rangers we ever had," said former Chief Ranger Steve Miller. Harold was preceded in death by his wife Cleta Baker John, his parents Mr. and Mrs. W.E. John, brothers Leon John and Paul John, and brother-in-law Robert Baker, sisters-in-law Cleatus John & Lorine John. He is survived by son Keith John and wife Donna Hopper John of Sulphur; daughter Cheryl John Caldwell and husband Larry of Topeka, KS, plus their two daughters Erin Caldwell, and Ashley Caldwell Dorsey and her husband James y; two great grandchildren Josiah Dorsey and Halle Dorsey, also of Topeka, KS; two nephews Jerry P. John and wife Joetta John, Portland, OR, and James C. John and wife Kathy John of Sulphur; neice Susan Baker of Hoboken, N.J.; and sister-in-law Martha Baker of Sulphur. Services: 1:00PM Wednesday November 2 at the Sulphur United Methodist Church with interment to follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Sulphur United Methodist Church Building Fund. The family wishes to extend deep appreciation for all of the many expressions of prayer, love, kindness and concerns during this time of bereavement.

Tributes

Harold Eugene John

July 4, 1915 - October 28, 2011