John (Jack) William Ayler III, 92, of North, Va., passed away on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012.
Jack was born on March 15, 1920 in Newport News, Va., to John (Big Jack) William Ayler Sr. and Margaret Reynolds Ayler. He attended VMI and graduated in 1941, joining the Army Air Corps seven months later. After WWII ended, he was honorably discharged as a decorated 1st Lt., P-47 fighter pilot, having served in the Pacific campaign. He retired from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (Northrop Grumman) as a Structural Engineer for the design of nuclear submarines.
Jack also spent part of his retirement working part-time at Moughons and Brown’s Auto Parts, both in Mathews. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church Kingston Parish in Mathews and a former member of the Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Hathaway Callis Ayler (1997); his son, John William Ayler IV (2000); and his sister, Mary Wat Holt Robinson (2011).
Jack is survived by his four daughters, Jane Bottorff (Cliff) of Williamsburg, Va., Peggy Mueller (Gary) of Seafood, Va., Nancy Ayler of Newport News, Va., Ann Cary Shortridge (Tom) of Virginia Beach, Va.; six grandchildren, Sara, Brian, Harrison, Rachel, Hayley, and Christopher, and nieces and nephews in Newport News and Connecticut.
A graveside service will be conducted on Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Christ Church Cremation Scatter Garden, 320 Williams Wharf Road, Mathews. A reception will follow at the church parish hall on Main Street, Mathews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Mathews County Meals On Wheels, c/o Nelda Gibbs, P.O. Box 369, Mathews, Va. 23109 or to your local food pantry or Meals On Wheels association.
The family would like to thank the staff at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital (Gloucester, Va.), Mathews County Meals On Wheels drivers, Jack’s neighbors, the Hugates (North River Road) and Sheryl at Cedar Point Farm, Yvonne Johnson (Susan, Va.) and the “Gals” at North Star Mart (off Rt. 14). Dad could not have lived his life as he wanted without your help, friendship, and kindness.
Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Inc., Mathews, is in charge of the arrangements.