John Milton Poorbaugh Jr.

May 7, 1931 — Oct. 21, 2020

John Milton Poorbaugh Jr. was born in Elkhart, Indiana, on May 7, 1931, to John Milton Poorbaugh Sr. and Joyce Pippinger. John was the eldest of four children.

John graduated from Ball State Teacher's College in Indiana. He then taught juniors and seniors at South Bend schools for 35 years and was debate coach for 33 years. After he retired, John moved to California in 1994 and married a fellow Elkhart High School graduate of 1949, Phyllis Jennings Rubin, of California.

John and Phyllis bought a home in Twain Harte near John's favorite places; Sonora, Yosemite, Dodge Ridge ski resort, and Pinecrest Lake. John loved the outdoors: camping, skiing, canoeing, and fishing. The couple camped all over the Pacific Northwest and Canada in their tent camper.

John was a member of the Lions Club, the Masons, SIRS and did volunteer work with the US Forest Service, the Visitor's Bureau, Interfaith Community Social Services, and the Newcomers Club. John was part of the men's club and sang in the choir with the Methodist Church in Sonora, CA. He was also a proud member of the Korean War Veterans Association, where he served two years as the commander.

John passed peacefully in his sleep on October 21 st , 2020 at the age of 89. John's brothers Earl and David preceded him in death, while he is survived by his wife, Phyllis Rubin Poorbaugh now of Clayton, California; his sister, Louise Jones, and her husband, Dick; his two sons, John Poorbaugh III, Douglas Poorbaugh, and his wife, Amy Poorbaugh; and one grandchild, Christopher Poorbaugh, all of Indiana. He also has five step-children: Scott Rubin, Joel Rubin, Julie Rubin and Amy Murphy, all of California, and David Sullivan, of Indiana, as well as seven step-grandchildren in both California and Indiana.