John W. Secor

John Wesley Secor, 86, passed away August 10, 2018, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born January 12, 1932 at home in Jimtown to Hazel Burley (Heffner) and William Henry Secor, Senior.

John loved to learn and pursued degrees in education, obtaining a BA from Bethel College, Masters and Certification in School Administration from IU and a Specialist in Education Degree from Ball State University. He began his teaching career at Jimtown High School in 1955. In 1964, he accepted the position of elementary principal at New Paris and Millersburg in the Fairfield Community School District. In 1985, he moved to Greensburg, Indiana, where he was principal at South Decatur Elementary School until 1997. Moving back to Elkhart, he became a supervisor for student teachers at Bethel College and IUSB. He also was a minister, serving Nazarene churches in Nappanee, Syracuse, LaGrange, and Ligonier.

He married Betty Carol Miller of Goshen on June 24, 1951. They have four children,  Brian (Sharon) Secor of Roanoke, Indiana, Blain (Cindy) Secor, of Spokane, Washington, Velinda Secor of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Valerie (Mark) Natvig of Lawler, Iowa. John and Betty have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother Gary (Judy) Secor of Elkhart. John was preceded in death by 4 sisters and 2 brothers.

Visitation will be Friday, August 17th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd. Elkhart, where funeral services will be held at 10 am Saturday, August 18th. Pastor Larry Sonnenberg will officiate. Interment will follow at Olive East Cemetery, 61081 CR# 3, Elkhart.

Memorial donations may be made to Faith Mission of Elkhart or Baugo Lions Club. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.