- Date Of Birth: May 16, 1916
- Date Of Death: May 14, 2012
- State: Illinois
John Wilson English of Okeechobee, FL formerly of Centralia, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2012 in Okeechobee, 2 days before his 96th Birthday. Mr. English was born May 16, 1916 in Centralia, son of Roscoe English and Nola (Meadows) English. He married Kay Scott and they later divorced, then he married Harriett McBride in Centralia on November 4, 1981 and she survives in Okeechobee, FL. In addition to his wife, Mr. English is survived by a son, Terry W. English and Patricia Kennedy of Louisburg, NC; a daughter: Carolyn “Carol” Mandrell and David Phelps, Sr. of Centralia; stepson: Raymond McBride and wife Penny of Beach Park; stepdaughter: Mary Hassenfuss of TN; 8 grandchildren: Christy Rascher and husband Kerry of Flora, Shelley Koelmel and husband Rodney of Shattuc, Michael English and wife Stacy of Carlyle, Patrick McBride and Jamie McBride both of Beach Park, Robin Pugh of FL, Stacy Hassenfuss and Jeff Hassenfuss both of TN; 7 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. English was preceded in death by his 4 brothers and their wives: Clyde and Violet English, Paul and Ruby English, Harold and Marybelle English and Howard English. Mr. English was a carpenter like his father and worked for many years for Centralia City Schools as head of maintenance for all the city schools, where he became custodian of Jordan School and later retired. He served his country in WWII, by joining the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly served in Italy, North Africa and the Island of Corsica as an airplane mechanic. Mr. English served as Post Commander of American Legion Post 446 from 1974-1975 and was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2055. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge No. 1214, Central City Lions Club and Centralia Elks Lodge No. 493. Mr. English and his wife moved to Okeechobee in 1987 after having spent several winters there, where they loved to dance, travel, taking long drives while exploring Florida and fishing in the Okeechobee Lake.
