John Edwin Staton, 87, passed on to his heavenly home on Sunday July 25, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. John was a devoted Christian and has always been an active member of his local church serving as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, lay music director and wherever he felt God led him to serve. John was instrumental in planting several churches in the San Diego, California area. John proudly served his country in the United States Navy as a yeoman. He then worked for a defense contractor, General Dynamics, until he retired. John met his wife, Faith, on a Greyhound bus. Together they settled and raised their family in San Diego, California, before relocating to Shelby over 20 years ago. John’s life influenced many and he will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.
John is the son of the late Mary Elizabeth (Pope) Staton and Edwin Thompson Staton. He is preceded in death by his son, Charles Staton and two brothers, Cecil Staton and Roy Staton.
Left behind to cherish their memories of John are his loving wife of over 63 years, Faith (Collins) Staton and his daughters Charlotte Gill and her husband D’mitri, Mary Gloege and her husband Donald and Connie Quigley and her husband Mike. Grieving the loss of their grandfather are Adam Staton and his fiancée Paulisha Webster, Amber Lawson and her husband Eric, Nicole Haynes and her husband Tim, Brandon Gill and Elizabeth Robinson and her husband James. John leaves behind his great-grandchildren Faith Lawson and Jason Haynes. His brother Fred Staton and his wife Loretta are also grieving as are other extended family members and friends.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 North Post Road, Shelby. A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at Elizabeth Baptist Church. Burial with full military honors, accorded by the United States Navy, will follow in the church’s cemetery. Dr. Rit Varriale will offer words of encouragement and hope to family and friends that gather to celebrate John’s homegoing.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in John’s name to Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 N. Post Road, Shelby, NC 28152 or the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association, 1175 Wyke Road, Shelby, NC 28150.
Fond memories of John and condolences for the family may be left at www.carothersfuneralhomegastonia.com.
The staff of Carothers Funeral Home at Gaston Memorial Park is honored to serve the Staton Family.
