John Paul Hadley

John Paul Hadley was born on June 12, 1925, in Wesson, Arkansas, to Walter and Sadie Hadley and entered his eternal rest on October 8, 2013, in Odessa, Texas.

In 1942, after graduating from high school in Magnolia, Arkansas, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged on November 6, 1945. He spent the majority of his enlistment in the South Pacific. After returning to the states, he was stationed at Camp Lee Stephen in Eastport, Maine, where he met a local young lady named Helen Farris at the USO. They were married June 18, 1945, in Eastport, Maine, and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year.

Early in their marriage, they lived in Searcy, Arkansas, where John graduated from Harding Christian College in 1950 with a B.S. degree in chemistry and mathematics. From May of 1952 to May of 1954, John, Helen, and their children were missionaries in Germany. When they returned to the states, John began his career in the petro-chemical industry and retired in 1984 from El Paso Products Co. in Odessa, a job that took John and Helen to Algeria for 3 years in the late 1970s.

He had numerous interests throughout his life and was always ready to try something new. He had a gift for languages and was an avid reader, especially interested in war history. He had a beautiful bass singing voice and was a Bible class teacher at Sherwood Church of Christ for many years.

John was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters. He is survived by his beloved wife Helen, his children and their spouses, Tim and Nan Hadley of Lubbock, Vicki and Jimmy Kiker of Odessa, Mary Anne and Scott Martin of Odessa, Robert Hadley of Lake Jackson, and Elizabeth and Joe Leader of Salem, Connecticut. John also was blessed with and is survived by 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Services are entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Home, where viewing is welcome through Friday.