Roll Call Tribute

Published in (San antonio) Express-News on Mar. 29, 2015

John Mcilhenny
June 4, 1934 - January 19, 2015

It is with profound sadness that his family announces the passing of John Howard McIlhenny on Monday, January 19, 2015. John left us in a moment of love and pure happiness as 2-year-old Savannah danced about the room showing Grandpa her new twirly skirt.
John was a devoted family man.loving husband.thoughtful, caring father.beloved grandfather.kindhearted uncle.treasured brother-in-law. His friendly nature and willingness to help at the drop of a hat were but two of his many qualities.
He was born June 4, 1934 in Riverside, California to Thelma P. and Howard B. McIlhenny. John and his mother remained stateside while his career military father served in posts overseas. Mother and son eventually returned to San Antonio where John grew up among his mother's side of the family - the Zollers and the Lees.
John attended Central Catholic High School where he excelled in track and field, holding the school's high jump record for many years. He went on to Texas A&M University (then College) where he was a member of the Varsity basketball and track teams. John proudly graduated with the Class of 1957 with degrees in Industrial Technology and Industrial Education.
John experienced a varied career path, most notably with the San Antonio Urban Renewal Agency and the Alamo Area Council of Governments.

Over the years John took an active part in local community life, such as serving as Fire Chief of the Leon Springs Volunteer Fire Department in its early days and later, becoming a member of San Antonio's Scottish Rifles Society marching team.
John asked for a 'short and sweet' notice at his passing but we, his family, would be remiss if we did not mention some things we will remember about him such as.his love of San Antonio and Texas A & M, mystery novels, action movies and westerns (a true John Wayne fan though he bore a striking resemblance to actor Dennis Weaver - with whom he shared a birthday) and watching cartoons with the kids (and he could tell you every storyline!)
He favored the music of ABBA and Neil Diamond but also enjoyed bagpipe music.he devoured many a chicken-fried steak but his food passion was brown gravy - on anything! John really liked fruitcake - a great guy to know when those holiday gift cakes arrived - and loved to snack on butter cookies and 'Cutie Pies.'
John enjoyed watching the Olympic Games and the Tour de France and car races and baseball games (though he would not watch the teams he liked for he felt he would jinx them.) He admired old tractors and trains and lighthouses as well as the 'tall ships' he traveled to Boston and San Diego to see.
He could have easily been a junk dealer citing his love of finding others' discarded items and liking them for their age and original use. Possibly his proudest possession at one time was a 6-foot high stand-upon 'penny' scale in

working order that weighed some 250 pounds. The man loved 'found' objects, to be sure.
John is survived by his six children and their spouses: Pamela (Chris) Kalivas, John, Jr. (Susan) McIlhenny, Beth (Rex) Reasor, Allison (Loyd) Guillot, Courtney (Christian) Megliola and Robin McIlhenny - plus grandchildren Travis (Yuri) McIlhenny, Stephanie McIlhenny, Michael McIlhenny, Adam Reasor, Benjamin Reasor, Catherine Guillot, Sarah Guillot and Savannah Megliola. John was great-grandfather to Leylan McIlhenny.
A celebration of John's life and visitation for family and friends is planned for Saturday, April 25, 2015, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the chapel of Vaughan Funeral Home in Boerne.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Houston Hospice (www.houstonhospice.org) in memory of our dear John.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.vaughanfuneralhome.com Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Vaughan's Funeral Home of Boerne.




Funeral Home
Vaughan's Funeral Home - Boerne
319 E. San Antonio Avenue  Boerne, TX 78006
(830) 249-9128