Roll Call Tribute

John Eloy Montemayor, Col. USMC (Ret) 

August 7, 1956 - October 30, 2025 

John Eloy Montemayor, 69, of Warrenton, Virginia passed away on October 30, 2025, at home. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 7, 1956, to Juan and Olga Montemayor. He was married to Mary (Mef) Montemayor for 44 years, having two children, Fran Holmberg and John X. Montemayor.

John attended Texas A&M University, joining the Corps of Cadets, and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. He was commissioned into the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course and graduated from The Basic School in 1979. Upon completion of The Basic School, he earned his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator in 1981, qualified on the CH-53, and continued his education, earning a Master of Science in Management in December 1986 at Naval Post Graduate School. His numerous awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Gold Star), Air Medal Strike/Flight, and the Association of Naval Aviation Helicopter Achievement Award.

His career truly took him around the world via duty stations, deployments, and flying. He participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in direct combat missions, humanitarian/peacekeeping missions in Somalia, and various other missions throughout Norway, Japan, Australia, Hawaii, the Arctic Circle, and the Philippines. At the peak of being a pilot, officer, and leader of Marines, he was selected as the Commanding Officer of Helicopter Squadron HMT-302. Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, he earned his realtor’s license in 2014, focusing his efforts on continuing to serve the military community.

More importantly than his career, Jesus defined every part of his soul and essence. One Easter Sunday during a deployment in 1982, he made the monumental and life defining decision to ask Jesus to be his Savior. His Christian character and generosity marked the rest of his days. He and Mef loved to open their homes to Bible studies, missionaries, church members, family, and friends. Even to his last day, he went to Bible study, encouraged and mentored countless people, and wrote daily words of encouragement to his family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and son. During his later years, he pursued the guitar, taking lessons, playing in groups, and strumming “Jesus Loves You” to his grandchildren. He loved being a grandfather and showered his family with constant love and support. Never wanting to say two words when one would do, he was able to be kind, caring, wise, and even “silly Uncle John”.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary (Mef) Montemayor; daughter, Fran Holmberg and her husband, Andrew, and daughter, Grace Malia (21); son, John X Montemayor, and his wife, Emily, and sons, John (Jack) (5) and Thomas (1); mother, Olga Montemayor (96) and brother, Joel Montemayor, (66).

A viewing will be held at Moser Funeral Home in Warrenton, Virginia on November 11th (Veterans Day), 2025 from 6-8 pm. The memorial will be held at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel, 1701 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172 on November 12th from 2-3 pm. A reception will follow. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors.