ST. HELENA, Calif. —
John William Munns was born in Geneva, Ohio on August 24, 1923, to Marjorie Laird Smith Munns and Charles Devine Munns.
He had a delightful childhood living with his grandfather, Dr. Frank Smith, and grandmother, Alice Heath Laird Smith, in Geneva, after his mother passed away when he was just three years old. John went to Toronto, Ontario to live with his father while he attended Lawrence Park Collegiate for his upper school education and then traveled back to the United States to study at Case Western Reserve.
John exuded the love of life and learning and went on to become a professor of English and American and British Studies at the Kent State University branch at Ashtabula and at The University of South Florida where he taught until age 80.
He was a practicing environmentalist who participated in the creation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and assisted in Ashtabula County with water quality and environmental issues in the 1960’s. He was an avid fly fisherman, a gardening and cooking enthusiast and as a young man the owner of an advertising agency with offices in Chicago, Cleveland and Hartford, Conn.
What he will be most remembered for was his absolute positive outlook on life; every day was a new adventure filled with opportunity and happiness. He was known for his wit, smile, and the twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes and for often cheerfully whistling a Frank Sinatra tune. He found great pleasure in the beauty of nature, reading, and focusing on learning something new. His appreciation of all life has to offer brought a closeness and joy to his relationships with his family and friends.
John met the love of his life, Janeth Watkins, when he was at Adelbert College and she at Flora Stone Mather of Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. He went on to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II, married Janeth on Sept. 29, 1944 and then after World War II went back to Western Reserve to complete his collegiate studies. John Munns died in his home in St. Helena, Calif. with his daughter, Susan, by his side on Sept. 10, 2012, at age 89.
He was interred in the St. Helena Cemetery where his wife was interred in 2005.
His daughter, Susan Boswell; granddaughter, Jacquelynn Peeples; and great-granddaughter, Eloise Theodosia Peeples, who all live in St. Helena, survive him. Brothers, Chuck Laird, age 85, of Palo Alto and Dave Munns, age 92, of Tucson; and daughter, Jane Rhys of Paris, also survive him.
Obituary and condolences at starbeacon.com.
Obituary Archives
Related Photos
-
John W. Munns
Guest Book
John W. Munns
- Obituary Archives
-
-
LINDA L. COPLEY
Linda Lou Copley, 71, formerly of Ashtabula, died on March 27, 2013, at her home.
-
DAVID L. MOODY JR.
David L. Moody Jr., 89, died Thursday, May 16, 2013, in the ICU of Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
Lois V. Tackett
Lois V. Tackett, age 80, of Geneva, Ohio, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Rae-Ann Geneva in Geneva.
-
Rev. Charles T. Poore
With sorrow the Diocese of Youngstown announce the death of Reverend Charles Poore on Thursday, May 16, 2013. He was 50 years old.
-
RONALD E. CLUTTER
Ronald E. Clutter, 55, of Garrison Road, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at the Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
KATHARINA R. HURST
Katharina R. Hurst, 89, of Lee Road, Ashtabula, died Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Saybrook Landing.
-
Grace E. Dieffenbacher
Grace E. Dieffenbacher, age 93, was born Sept. 20, 1919, in Franklin, Pa. and was reborn on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in Saybrook Township, Ohio. Her parents were David C. and Flossie (Graham) Small and had lived in Saybrook most of her life.
-
DONALD C. ROSE
Donald Rose, 91, of Ashtabula, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in the Hospice Unit of Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
PAUL A. DEMSHAR
Paul A. Demshar, 62, of Ashtabula, died unexpectedly Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
-
Zachery T. Murphy
Zachery Taylor Murphy, age 21, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, as a result of an automobile accident.
-
Madeline M. Speer
Madeline M. Speer, age 82, of Punta Gorda, Fla., formerly of Roaming Shores, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Tidewell Hospice House in Florida. She was born April 7, 1931, in Euclid, Ohio.
-
BETTY J. DILLEY
Betty J. Dilley, 89, of Gustavus Township, Ohio, died Thursday, May 16, 2013.
-
Cynthia A. Shouvlin
Cynthia Ann Shouvlin, age 59, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Tri-Point Medical Center.
-
Shirley A. Kotnick
Shirley A. Kotnick, age 76, of Roaming Shores, Ohio, died Thursday, May 16, 2013, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Andover, Ohio.
-
Lillian Swank
Lillian White Swank, age 85, of Harpersfield Township, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at home surrounded by her loving family.
-
Eileen J. Phillips
Former Conneaut resident, Eileen J. Phillips, age 78, died Wednesday morning, May 15, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio.
-
DONALD C. ROSE
Donald C. Rose, 91, of Ashtabula, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in the Hospice Unit of Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
CYNTHIA A. SHOUVLIN
Cynthia A. Shouvlin, 59, of Ashtabula, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Tri-Point Medical Center.
-
LILLIAN SWANK
Lillian Swank, 85, of Harpersfield, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
-
LOIS J. OLIVER
Lois Jean Oliver, 84, former Kingsville resident, died Saturday afternoon, May 11, 2013, at the Jefferson Healthcare Center.
- More Obituary Archives Headlines
-
LINDA L. COPLEY
