John Paul Greenwalt

May 24, 1936 – September 23, 2025

John Paul Greenwalt, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, went home to his Lord and Savior on September 23, 2025, at the age of 89 in Pearland, Texas.

Born on May 24, 1936, in Marion, Indiana, to Paul and Ruth Greenwalt, John moved with his family to Bay City, Texas, at the age of five, where his parents owned and operated an auto parts store. His childhood years in Bay City instilled in him a strong work ethic, a love for music, and a lifelong passion for aviation.

John attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where he proudly served in the Corps of Cadets, attained the rank of Lieutenant, and played the French horn in the Aggie Band, graduating in 1958. He then fulfilled his lifelong dream of flying, completing flight school before serving five years in the U.S. Air Force as a Captain, piloting F-100s during the Vietnam era, and later flying jets with the Air National Guard.

His professional aviation career took flight with Trans World Airlines (TWA) as a commercial pilot for 28 years. Known for his exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication to safety, John earned the respect of colleagues and crew alike. After an early retirement, he pursued other interests only to return his lifelong passion for flying by investing in others as a Flight Safety Instructor for 25 years with his expertise and knowledge, shaping and inspiring the next generation of pilots.

Beyond the cockpit, John was an adventurer at heart and an all-around sportsman. He enjoyed go-kart and race car driving, running, cycling, kayaking, and riding motorcycles. He also had a lifelong love of tennis—both playing and instructing—was a dedicated gun enthusiast, and an avid HAM radio operator, known by his call sign K5BZC.

Throughout his life, John was honored with many distinctions, including induction into the Grand Order of Tape Dragons on July 14, 1966, at Eglin Air Force Base, Lifetime Member of the American Radio Relay League, and the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing more than 50 years of safe flying without a single black mark.

His journey carried him across the country and abroad—from Texas to Montana, Louisiana, Spain, Portugal, New Jersey, and New York during his years of military service, and later to Northern California and Missouri during his time with TWA. Eventually, he returned home to Texas, where he lived in Arlington, Conroe, Dallas, and Katy, before settling in Pearland. There, he spent his final years surrounded by his church family and loved ones.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 29 years, Sheila Greenwalt; his children, Stirling, Cynthia, and Françoise; his 3 grandchildren; and his 2 great-grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his athletic pursuits, and his unwavering passion for aviation. Most importantly, on December 5, 1978, John received Jesus Christ as his Savior and was made a new creation in Him. From that day forward, he not only trusted Christ as his Savior but faithfully followed Him as Lord.

Two of his favorite scriptures were Psalm 9:2 — "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." — and 2 Samuel 22:4 “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”

A celebration of John’s life will be held at New Harvest Christian Fellowship in Pearland, Texas, where family and friends will gather to honor his memory and share stories of his remarkable journey.