John Lewis Smeltzer, Jr., 89, passed away on the morning of August 3, 2017 in the company of his beloved family. He was born on January 13, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was raised by his mother, Frances Ward Smeltzer, and her extended family in Fairmont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. where John graduated from Central High School. John joined the Merchant Marine upon graduation and went to sea while awaiting his appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Upon graduation from Annapolis in 1951, he led a decorated and diversified career as a naval aviator, surface warfare officer, and amphibious operations specialist. His various duty assignments ranged from tours aboard destroyers, several amphibious landing ships, a fleet oiler, US Naval Academy instructor, and two tours of duty in South Vietnam. After 21 years of military service, John finally retired for good after a successful career with QED Systems performing shipboard systems overhaul and repairs.

John was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Joyce K. Smeltzer. He is survived by his son John W. Smeltzer and Virginia Lisenby, his daughter Anita and husband John Miles, his daughter Kay and husband William Ragland, and grandchildren Kevin Miles and Joyce Miles.

John was very fortunate and found love again with his second wife of 17 years, Beverly Skinner-Smeltzer. She is left to cherish his memory, along with John’s stepsons David Wykle and wife LiLi, Randy Wykle and wife Janet, Charles Wykle and wife Paula, and grandchildren Ashleigh, Jesse, Joshua, Charlie, Kristin, Justin, and Paige, and great-grandchildren August, Morgan, and Judson.

A viewing will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at the H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia. A 2:00 p.m. funeral service will be held that afternoon at the same location. Burial to follow immediately at Princess Anne Memorial Park, 1110 North Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach.