John Mckinley

November 8, 1937 — March 21, 2019

John Bailey McKinley passed away at home in Schertz, Texas on March 21 st , 2019 at the age of 81.A transplanted Texan since the 1970s, John was originally born on November 8th ,1937 in Waterville, Maine. He was the second child of the late Allen and Erma (Dyer) McKinley,and grew up with siblings Marilyn (predeceased), Gloria, Wayne, and Joleen. At the age of 17, an adventurous young John joined the U.S. Air Force and would spend the next 23 years serving his country across the globe. John lived his life with determination and diligence, and his time in the Air Force was no exception. He was awarded a Bronze Star for service in Vietnam, a Meritorious Service award, and retired from the Air Force in 1978 with the rank of Master Sergeant. A quintessential renaissance man, John had also pursued a private pilot's license during his time in the Air Force, and while stationed at Randolph AFB became a flight instructor with the Aero Club. Following his retirement from the Air Force, John turned his love for flying into a second career and spent the next several decades traversing the skies, first as a commercial and corporate pilot with Valero, then as a respected flight instructor at Flight Safety.

Thanks to the Air Force "travel plan", John met Miyoko Ono while stationed in Japan,and she would become his wife of 39 years until her early passing in 1996. Together they raised two children, poured into the lives of six grandchildren, and now have eight (and counting) great-grandchildren. In 2004 John's family grew again when he married Sun (affectionately referred to as Halmoni by the grandchildren), and John was proud to consider her two adult daughters a part of his family as well. Never one to be idle, John continued working as an instructor for Flight Safety until the age of 80, and was also an active member of the First Baptist Church of Universal City. Spending quality time with his family was always a priority, and no family function was complete without "Grandpa". John was not only a lifelong teacher, but a perpetual student, and he could always be counted on to know about the latest developments in news and technology. He enjoyed working alongside his wife Sun both through her journey to obtain a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Missiology, and side by side at home in their yard. As a man who deeply loved and cared for his family, John's legacy lives on in those who have survived him: his wife Sun McKinley, daughter Susan (Greg) Phillips, son Donald (Mattie) McKinley, sister Gloria (Fred) Frendt, brother Wayne (the late Betty) McKinley, sister Joleen (the late Buck) Buchanan, step-daughters Jeanne (Jacob) Harper and Diana (Tripp) Pickell, their children Dante, Brody, and Anako, grandchildren Robert, Elizabeth (Shaughn), Kristin (Ben), Kaitlyn (Justin), Grace, and Kyle (Christina), and their children Christian, Hailey, Shayne, London, Emily, Brianne, Walter, Brady (and counting).
John enjoyed telling stories, laughing with loved ones, and sharing wisdom. Times to reflect on these memories with his friends and family are listed below:

A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM at Schertz Funeral Home. A Celebration Service of John's Life will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2019 from 9:00 AM to 10:00AM, at the First Baptist Church of Universal City, followed by an 11:00AM interment with military honors, at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

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Visitation

Schertz Funeral Home

Wednesday, April 03, 2019
05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
2217 FM 3009
Schertz, TX 78154

Funeral Service

First Baptist Church Universal City

Thursday, April 04, 2019
09:00 AM
1401 Pat Booker Rd
Universal City, TX 78148

Graveside Service

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Thursday, April 04, 2019
11:00 AM
1520 Harry Wurzbach
San Antonio, Texas 78209

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John Mckinley

November 8, 1937 — March 21, 2019

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