John Richard Longenecker was born to Richard and Helen Longenecker June 7, 1947 in Laura, Ohio. He graduated from Franklin Monroe High School in Pittsburgh, Ohio in 1966. He attended and graduated from Georgetown College in Kentucky in 1970. He was then drafted and served in the United States Army. While serving he continued his education in Richmond Virginia attending Medical College of Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. John married Christina Alvarado of Sanger, California in 1981. Shortly after in 1984 their daughter Marcie was born, the apple of his eye. In 1992 John retired from the military after 22 years of service and moved to Clovis, California. He continued to serve veterans as a Registered Nurse working at the VA Hospital in Fresno, California until he retired in 2010.
John was an honorable and honest man, respected by many. He was the first to lend a hand when needed without waiting to be asked. You could rely on him to give you his honest opinion and accepted his opinion as the truth. While he had many accomplishments and successes throughout his life, he would be the last one to tell you about them but rather ask you about yours. Due to his genuine interest in others it made his marriage into Christina’s extensive family seamless and he was quickly loved by all.
John was an avid researcher and planner of all things. Just ask Christina, it is as if he had their whole life planned after their first date 41 years ago. This included many wonderful trips traveling and hiking all over the world. Along with traveling John had a passion for sports. He had intended to be a PE instructor and coach with his degree from Georgetown before being drafted. He could be considered a walking almanac for all thing’s sports.
John was a great many things to a great number of people. A thoughtful and devoted friend. A kind and loving husband, father and grandfather who loved more then anything his 3 beautiful granddaughters Riley, Calla, and Sage in which his legacy will continue.
John was preceded in death by; father Richard Longenecker and mother Helen Althouse-Longenecker; sister Linda Petty and sister Karen Bartlett.
Serving as pallbearers are Michael Alvarado, Tony Alvarado, Steven Alvarado, Richard Alvarado, John Martinez and Danny Garza.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Longenecker family.
