John Bauptista Ortiz

He was born July 2, 1931 to the late Enrique Ortiz and Barbara Santiago. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving during the Korean War. He moved to Statesville from New York in 1976. He was the owner and operator of 4-J’s Convenience store for over 30 years, and the Back Door Restaurant. He was well known and loved throughout the community. He enjoyed bowling, working outdoors in his yard, and was an avid baseball fan, especially the Yankees.

He was a member of St. Phillips the Apostle Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Josephine Figueroa Ortiz, a daughter, Linda Ortiz of Statesville, 2 sons, John J. Ortiz and his wife, Claudia of Wilmington, and Joseph C. Ortiz and his wife, Gina of Wilkesboro, 6 grandchildren, Juliana Ortiz Mills, Nicholas Ortiz, Andrew Ortiz, Angelica Ortiz, Adam Ortiz, and Alex Ortiz, along with 2 great grandchildren, Jocelyn Mills and Brianna Mills, and a sister, Awilda Satchwell, of England.

A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday at 10:00 A.M., at St. Phillips Catholic Church, with Father Kurt Fohn and Deacon Matt Reilly officiating. Burial will follow at the National Cemetery in Salisbury, NC at 1:00 P.M. A Catholic Rosary Service will be said at 6:00PM this evening at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with visitation following from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

For those who prefer, memorials may be given to the Gordon Hospice House C/O Hospice & Palliative Care Of Iredell County 2347 Simonton Rd. Statesville, N.C. 28625 or to the American Cancer Society 1901 Brunswick Ave. Suite 100, Charlotte, N.C. 28207.

The family has entrusted Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with arrangements.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.