John Thomas Rankin Jr.

_orn in his grandmother’s home in Lavaca, Arkansas, John Thomas Rankin, Jr. was the first child of Hazel and John Rankin. On December 14, 1934, he began his life journey.

Only a year old, he and his mother were on a train headed to California. They reunited with his father who had found work there during the Great Depression. His life would revolve around the city of Porterville for the next 82 years. On May 12, 2018, John’s life journey ended peacefully in the city where he flourished.

John’s first few years in Porterville brought him a brother Jacob and sister Janice. His education began at St. Anne’s School. Later he graduated from Porterville High School. At eighteen, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in both California and Japan. After four years, John was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.

When he returned home he worked while studying at Porterville College, eventually earning degrees from California State University, Fresno.

After college John was hired by Porterville Unified Schools where he started as a teacher, later becoming vice principal at Pioneer Junior High. During those 37 years, he often worked with children and grandchildren of many of his former students.

On his marriage to Dolly Griswold he became the proud father of Robert and Donna. The children grew and thrived in Porterville. They attended Porterville schools and had Grandma Hazel, Grandpa Jack and cousins close by. When Dolly died, John relied on help from all the Rankin family. In 1990, he married Maryann Hackett with whom he would spend the rest of his life.

Active in the community, John served on the Porterville College Foundation, the Porterville Fair _oard of Directors, and became a city council member and mayor of Porterville. Around town he could be found frequenting any number of local cafes with friends.

On his retirement, John continued his interest in education and local politics. He especially enjoyed working with children. _asketball, whether local, college, or professional continued to feed his love of sports. He travelled throughout the United States and visited the _ritish Isles, Scotland, New Zealand, and China.

John is survived by a brother, Jacob Rankin and sister, Janice Pennington, his children, Kenneth Robert (_ob) Griswold and Donna Marie Shepard. He also leaves his wife of 28 years, Maryann Rankin; six grandchildren; multiple nephews and nieces; and numerous grandnephews and grandnieces. He was known by many of the younger generation as ‘Uncle John.’ These were children of his close friends, extended family, and people he encountered through his community activities. Each knew that Uncle John could be counted on when needed.

Anyone wishing to honor John’s memory is requested to donate to any local community cause or to the National Parkinson’s Foundation at website www.parkinson. org