John Robert Behl Jr.

John Robert Behl Jr. passed away peacefully on August 16, 2026, at the age of 78. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose steady presence, practical wisdom, quick wit, and unwavering commitment to his family touched all who knew him.

John was born on March 12, 1948, in Carthage, Missouri, and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Briarcliff High School in DeKalb County, Georgia, before attending the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

In December 1971, John married the love of his life, Marcia Marion Saval of Petersburg, Virginia. For 54 years, she remained at the center of his world. Together they built a life filled with family, travel, music, laughter, and adventure.

John and Marcia began their married life in Atlanta and West Palm Beach, Florida, before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where John’s career in the utility industry began to take shape. He joined Public Service Company of Oklahoma and went on to spend more than 25 years with its parent company, Central and Southwest Corporation, which later merged into American Electric Power. Over the years, his work brought the family from Tulsa to Corpus Christi, Texas, back to Tulsa, and eventually to Columbus, Ohio. He advanced through a variety of leadership roles in human resources, specializing in change management, employee benefits, and information technology projects. Known for being logical, dependable, and steady, John retired in 2004 after a meaningful and valued career. After retirement, John and Marcia moved to McKinney, Texas, to be closer to their family in Dallas.

John and Marcia were blessed with two children, Jennifer and Travis, and five grandchildren who brought him great joy. Their daughter, Jennifer Behl Taylor, and her husband, Bryan Lane Taylor, gave John two granddaughters, Katheryne Marie and Samantha Morgan. Their son, John Travis Behl, and his wife, Rebecca Hays Behl, blessed him with three grandchildren, Isaac Thomas, John Andrew, and Hannah Marie. John is also survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Behl, and nephew, Jim Behl. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Robert Behl Sr. and Mari Louise Behl, and his brother, Jeff Behl.

Throughout his life, some of John’s favorite memories were made at the lake. He loved boating, sailing, slalom skiing, and fishing, embracing the kind of lake life that created stories and traditions for generations. He also enjoyed golf, live music, and dancing with Marcia. He was happiest when surrounded by the people he loved, and you could typically find him at the grill or in the kitchen cooking, bringing everyone together around the table.

John loved having a project to tackle and could fix almost anything. If something was broken, he was often the first person family and friends called. He had a practical way of looking at the world and a gift for figuring out how to solve a problem.

That same grounded nature made him the steady foundation of his family. Kind, loyal, dependable, and loving, John was a man of few unnecessary words, but when he spoke, people listened. His stoic nature was balanced by a quick sense of humor, and his observations were often funny, perfectly timed, and memorable.

When it came to his family, John was endlessly generous with his time, energy, and support. He encouraged the passions of those he loved, whether that meant music, sports, or Marcia’s love of history and travel. He was a caregiver at heart, always ready to step in and do whatever was needed.

John also believed in giving back to the communities that mattered to his family. He supported the schools where Marcia taught, including serving as president of the Jenks Public School Foundation in Oklahoma. He also gave his time and leadership to All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, where his family was active for many years. Later in life, he and Marcia became members of Eldorado Country Club in McKinney, where John served on the board of governors and enjoyed being part of the senior golf association.

John and Marcia spent the last two and a half years living at Presbyterian Village North, where they found friendship, support, and community. His family is deeply grateful to the staff of Presbyterian Village North and Sage Oak Memory Care for the kindness, compassion, and care they provided.

He built his life around the people who mattered most to him. He loved Marcia deeply, cherished his children and grandchildren, and took great pride in supporting their dreams and celebrating their successes.

John’s family will miss his steady presence, wisdom, humor, and quiet strength. He was a good man, a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather. His absence will be deeply felt, but his love and example will remain with his family always.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family welcomes donations to these nonprofit organizations.

Parkinson Voice Project - https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/parkinson-voice-project

Presbyterian Village North Foundation - https://pvnfoundation.org/

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum - https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/DHHRM