John A. (Pop) Beaudin, 94 of Seminole Florida, passed peacefully on September 23, 2013 in the loving care of his family and the Palliative and Hospice Care Unit staff at the Bay Pines VA Healthcare Facility.
He was born on July 27, 1919 in Fairfield, Connecticut where he attended school and graduated from Roger Ludlow High School in the Class of 1939. He completed his education at the Connecticut School of Electronics and studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York City.
John inherited his love of music from his mother Mabel and was a member of the Fairfield Community Chorus. He sang with the chorus for Church Functions, Weddings, Holiday and Charitable Events.
As a proud American he joined the Army Air Corp January 3rd 1942 and trained with the 21st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron as a Radio Operator Mechanic Gunner. In his service in WWII, he managed the radio in the B-17 and manned a machine gun in missions over enemy occupied territory. It included all maintenance work on guns and making minor repairs on radio while in air. He proudly served his country with the 97th Bomb Group in England, Tunisia and Sicily and participated in the Air Offensive Europe campaign as well as the European African Middle Eastern Theater. He earned a Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal and Campaign Ribbon with three Service Stars. He was a three time recipient of the Air Medal a military decoration of the United States Military. The medal was created in 1942 and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Subsequent awards of the Air Medal are denoted in the U.S. Army by used oak leaf clusters displayed on the ribbon.
John retired in 1971 from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) in Fairfield Connecticut and relocated to Seminole Florida where he was employed at E Systems and retired in 1981 and belonged to the UAW Retirees #298.
A devout Catholic, John and wife Emily were members of Blessed Sacrament Church. John joined the Knights of Columbus #10377 at St Michaels Church in Port Richey Florida. As a Knight of the Fourth Degree it is the pinnacle of the Order with a group of men dedicated to promoting patriotism illuminated by their Catholic faith.
As great family man, John enjoyed many hobbies and activities. With wife Emily, they enjoyed dancing and China Painting. They belonged to the China Painters Guild of St Petersburg. Fisherman, electrician, handyman, pet lover, musician, painter he enjoyed everything with appreciation and zest.
John is survived by three step-daughters, Donna DeSio, Gail Silva, and Lynn Taylor; a step-son, William Nagy; seven grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 9:00 to 10:00am Thursday, Sept. 26th at the funeral home with a Funeral Mass to follow at 10:30am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seminole, FL. Interment with Military Honors will follow the Mass at Garden Sanctuary Cemetery in Seminole.
Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. Seminole, FL 33776 727-391-0121.
Donations can be made in John’s name to:
Blessed Sacrament Church
11565 66th Ave. N.
Seminole, FL 33772
Or
Sun Coast Hospice Veteran Partnership
VA Palliative Care
5771 Roosevelt Boulevard
Clearwater, Florida 33760
Phone: (727) HOSPICE (467-7423)
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