John Lewis Randall

John was born in Charlotte, NC, August 18, 1927. He graduated from Harding High School in 1945 and served in the U.S. Air Force in Europe at the end of WWII. John attended Charlotte College, but did not finish because he was recalled to the Korean War, where he served stateside. He married his childhood friend, Helen Chapman Randall in 1951, and missed her greatly since her passing in 2005. Most of his career was spent with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, from where he retired after 41 years.

John, a child of the Great Depression, began working to help support the family at age 12, and was always frugal but very generous. And although a self-described curmudgeon, he demonstrated a tremendous warmth for family and friends. He had a dry wit, loved to share a joke with friends, and loved his music. He enjoyed his wonderful neighbors, who were great friends and helpers to him in recent years, and shared his company and a drink when in health.

A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, December 23, at the Providence Baptist Church in the Gordon Weekly Chapel. Dr. Al Cadenhead (retired) will officiate. Interment will occur on a later date at the Sharon Memorial Park mausoleum.

John is survived by his daughter, Deborah R. Ballard and husband, Randy Ballard, of Matthews; son, John L. Randall, Jr., and wife, Libby Thomas, of Chapel Hill; sisters-in-law, Jewel Randall and Louise Chapman, of Charlotte; and grandchildren, Lauren Reed, Brooke Brown, Lewis Randall, and Max Randall (and affectionately known to them as "Pow"). John’s beloved grandchild, Courtney Ballard, and brother, Joe Randall, preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Matthews Playhouse Courtney Ballard Scholarship or Memorial Funds (100 E McDowell Street, Matthews NC 28105) or to the North Carolina Botanical Garden Conservation Fund (CB 3375, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC 27599).