John Ray Yearian

John Ray Diesel Yearian, 63, passed away at the Huntington Silverado facility in Alhambra, California on February 13, 2016. Born on August 24, 1952 in Sparta, Illinois, John was born to his parents Delmer Dean & Margaret Elizabeth (Mines) Yearian. John was married to the love of his life, Judith Judy Rae Benes in Casper, Wyoming on February 1st, 1975. Together they had three wonderful children and eight grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. Johns childhood years were spent growing up in Sparta. As a young man, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served his country from 1971 to 1975, becoming a Sergeant and crew-chief airplane mechanic on a refueling tanker. He would always say that whenever those airplanes were in the air they were under the operation of the pilot, but when they were on the ground they were under his supervision. After his service, John attended Bailey Technical School in St. Louis, Missouri to become an auto and diesel mechanic. Through his training, he took quite well to learning everything there is to know about engines. This quickly earned him the nickname Diesel. After graduating from Bailey Technical School, he spent 8 y...[more]

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s with Cummins in Casper, Wyoming as a field service technician. In 1986, John and Judy moved their family to southern California where John continued his career with Cummins as a general service manager and applications engineer. He retired after 32 years in his profession. John had many interests in life. If his nickname and training werent evidence enough already, John loved classic cars. He was active in numerous car clubs. He also loved motorcycle riding; taking long rides around the country with friends and his wife Judy. He was a mans man who also loved fishing, boating and hunting. John was also very active in his community, including being a member of the Whittier Host Lions Club, the Hog Club, participation on the City of Whittier Parking and Transportation Commission, and he supported the diesel mechanics program at Long Beach City College in many ways. Johns faith was also an important aspect of his life. He was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition and later in life converted to the Roman Catholic faith. John is survived by his wife, Judy; his three children, Carrie (John) Hall of Copperas Cove, Texas, Teresa (Blake) Doan of Whittier, California, and John Dean JD Yearian of Copperas Cove, Texas; eight grandchildren; and his siblings, Charlene Nold, Carol Valleroy, and Gary Yearian. A Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 2:00PM 4:00PM at White Emerson Mortuary, Whittier. A Vigil Service where the Rosary will be said will be held at 4:00PM on Sunday following the visitation. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11:15AM at St. Marys Catholic Church, Whittier. Interment will take place at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the Whittier Host Lions Club Scholarship Fund OR the St. Marys Catholic Church Fund for the Needy.