John
John Hanner
d. October 10, 2013
John Preston Hanner was part of America's greatest generation. John was born October 22nd, 1923 in Forsythe, Arkansas. Soon after, John's family relocated to Oklahoma City where he spent his childhood. Thankfully he survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. John graduated from Capital Hill High School in 1942. Like so many young men of his generation, John found himself in the military soon after high school. Even though his family was very poor growing up, he attended Officer Candidate School at Yale University and graduated as a Second Lieutenant. John's next stop took him to Champaign, Illinois for crytopgraphy school at Chanute Field. It was here that he met WaNita Smith. After a short courtship, the two were married in San Francisco in July 1944. John was sent to serve in the South Pacific Campaign as a radio operator and message decoder for the Army Air Forces.
After the war, John went on to help build the communications infrastructure of this great country he loved. John spent 35 years with AT&T before his retirement in 1981. In his later years he devoted his life to helping others and loving his family. Sadly the one thing he couldn't survive was cancer. John Preston Hanner died October 10th, just days before his 90th birthday. He was a great husband, dad, grandfather, and great grandfather. It is with great pride that John will have some of his remains interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. He was truly a proud American.
John is survived by his wife of 69 years WaNita, his daughters Sally Jarvis and Liz Hudson along with her husband Dan Hudson. His wonderful life also touched 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John's name to the Honor Flight Network so that other veterans can be honored properly at:
Honor Flight, Inc.
300 E. Auburn Ave.
Springfield, OH 45505
Attn: Jane Julian
After the war, John went on to help build the communications infrastructure of this great country he loved. John spent 35 years with AT&T before his retirement in 1981. In his later years he devoted his life to helping others and loving his family. Sadly the one thing he couldn't survive was cancer. John Preston Hanner died October 10th, just days before his 90th birthday. He was a great husband, dad, grandfather, and great grandfather. It is with great pride that John will have some of his remains interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. He was truly a proud American.
John is survived by his wife of 69 years WaNita, his daughters Sally Jarvis and Liz Hudson along with her husband Dan Hudson. His wonderful life also touched 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in John's name to the Honor Flight Network so that other veterans can be honored properly at:
Honor Flight, Inc.
300 E. Auburn Ave.
Springfield, OH 45505
Attn: Jane Julian
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Hanner, please visit our flower store.