John W. Pridgeon

John W. Pridgeon, Sr. passed away on September 24, 2012 at age 97 as a result of complications following a fall in his New London home. He is survived by his wife, Lynne, of the home. Visitation will be at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel, Hannibal, on Thursday, September 27, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 at Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. The Reverend, Dr. Stephen D. Adkison will officiate. Burial will be at Grand View Burial Park following the service. John was born at home in Burr Oak Bottom, Doniphan County, Kansas on July 19, 1915 to Robert Leroy Pridgeon and Mary Alma Yount Pridgeon. John was the last surviving member of his family which included sister, Ola Pridgeon Weeks, brother, Clyde Pridgeon, and sister, Mary, who died as a young child. John graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1936. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri in 1940. After completing his degree John began working for the U.S. Navy in Newport News, Virginia, designing aircraft carriers. He continued in that position throughout WWII. John met his first wife, Emma Lou Lennox Pridgeon, while attending the University of Missouri. They were married shortly after he graduated and remained happily married for 57 years. John and Emma Lou had two sons, John W. Pridgeon, Jr, of Oâa