John D. Cannon

JOHN DUDLEY CANNON, 79, was born at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA on March 25, 1935, the son of Margaret Dortch and John Samuel Cannon, and died at Emory/St. Joseph’s Hospital on September 3, 2014. He grew up in Atlanta’s West End surrounded by aunts and uncles and 22 first cousins all a part of the family’s bakery business, The Dortch Baking Company. He earned his BS (1957) and MS (1961) degrees from Georgia Tech. He was in ROTC and served as an officer in the US Navy from 1957-1959. He trained as a Navy pilot and his love for flying and studying airplanes was a lifelong hobby. In 1959 while stationed in Washington, DC, he met his future wife Rose Broeckel Cannon. They were married in 1960 at New Market, VA. While working for Union Carbide in Lawrenceburg, TN daughter Shelli and son Steven were born 17 months apart. By 1966 the family relocated to Atlanta, GA where he was employed at Lockheed Marietta. Most of his career however was in financial planning, but his engineering skills served him and his family well. There was nothing he would not try to fix; once found, work began immediately. He was a lifelong patron of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, an avid Braves fan, and a frequent visitor at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. He was a member of Silver Wings International and was present each Wednesday at lunch with his flying buddies. He enjoyed his assisting at Landmark Worldwide. Nothing gave him more joy than to be with his grandchildren; babysitting as needed, happily watching “kid movies”, and transporting the little ones from school to their afternoon activities.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Rose Broeckel Cannon; his daughter Shelli (Roger) Hill; son Steven (Tracy) Cannon; four grandchildren, Stephanie and Shannon Hill and Cory and Claire Cannon; two sisters, Judy Patton and Suzanne Carlisle; and a host of other family members and friends. His sense of humor and quick wit will be missed most of all.

Visitation will be at Sandy Springs Chapel on Saturday, September 6, from 4-6 pm and Sunday, September 7, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. with funeral service to follow. A later internment at Georgia National Cemetery will be announced.

Donations can be made to nutritionfacts.org or The McDougall Research & Education Foundation, P.O. Box 14039, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.