John Paul Francis Ortega

John Paul Francis Ortega

Age 90, of Vandalia, passed away Monday, December 3, 2018, at The Hospice of Dayton.

John was born June 29, 1928, in Francisville, Indiana, to the late Hilario & Helen (Hernandez) Ortega. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Rosalind (Simone) Ortega; infant son, John Jr.; sister, Thelma Chavarria; and brothers, Joseph (Martha) & Marion Ortega.

John graduated from Spencerville High School (Ohio) in 1946. He worked in the steel mills and on the railroad. He entered the military and served four years in the U. S. Air Force. John studied for two years at the University of Dayton before joining the FAA in Air Traffic Control for 30 years. After retiring from the FAA, he enjoyed working at the University of Dayton Library and from 1977 to the present he volunteered at the U. S. Air & Trade Show. John taught students English (from a Spanish background) at Helke & Demmett Elementary Schools in Vandalia. Other activities include volunteering with the Mexico Club & The World Affair International Festival; the Sequential and Pioneer Days; and the Montgomery County Community Action Agency. In 1993 he and his wife, Karen, were honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Presidents Club of Vandalia Butler.

John was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church for over 50 years. As a parishioner, he served on the Community Affairs Commission, the Christ Renews His Parish Program and the Bereavement Committee. He also was a Eucharistic Minister and Mass Coordinator for many years.

John is survived by his loving wife, Karen; daughters, Julia Maurer & her husband, Joel, Jennifer Castellano & her husband, Joseph, and Teresa Eads & her husband, Robert; six sisters, Inez Ruiz, Esther Golden, Mary Ochoa, Theodora (George) Guerrero, Shirley (Robert) Ortega and Delores (Fabian) Canales; two brothers, David (Sherry) Ortega and Lawrence (Nancy) Ortega; five grandchildren, Natalie Maurer, Joseph & Sophia Castellano, Wesley and Oliva Eads; and by his extended family and many good friends.

The family will be receiving friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday (December 6) at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. John Tonkin at 11:00 a.m., Friday at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 435 E. National Road, Vandalia, Ohio 45377.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in memory of John to either St. Christopher Catholic Church or to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950 (www.stjude.org/donate).