A. John Newton Jr.

John was born on December 13, 1930 in Peason, Louisiana to A.J. and Linda (Ashley) Newton. He grew up in Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon with a close extended family including his sister Annye Newton and his cousins James, Larry and Camille Ashley who he thought of as siblings. He graduated from Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Oregon, and attended Tulane University. He served in the air force from 1951 to 1955, traveling the world in service to his country. After discharge he settled in South San Francisco, California, where he met and married Gail Kolar. John worked as a printer in South San Francisco and Yuba City, California, until his retirement in 1979. He moved to Smithville in 2006 in order to be closer to family after the death of his wife. Mr. Newton loved camping, boating, fishing, animals and helping others. He attended First Baptist Church in Smithville.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Gail, his sister Annye Newton Affeld and her husband Frank, and his cousins James and Larry Ashley. He is survived by niece Karen Affeld and her husband Michael McKniff of Red Rock, TX, niece Elizabeth Rahi and husband Jean of Whidbey Island, WA, nephew Francis Otto Affeld and wife Alicia of Dayton, TX, nephew Jonathan Affeld and wife Jannie of Mountain View, CA, niece Karen Dickson and husband Mike of South San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by his loving extended family of grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.