John J Sugden Sr.

John James Sugden Sr, 89, of Amarillo, passed peacefully on June 29, 2024, in his home surrounded by his family. 

The family invites you to attend a celebration of John's life on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Schooler Funeral Home's Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia. At 12:15 pm, Military Honors will begin with services by Amarillo Volleys for Veterans. Please come with stories and memories to share, as there will be a live microphone for all to enjoy their favorite memories of John. Light refreshments will be served. 

John was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 1935, to John and Lucille (Rite) Sugden. He attended high school in California and would enlist in the United States Navy, the first of his time in the military, prior to graduation. Following his service in the Navy, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he would retire as a Master Crew Chief after 20 years, 3 months, and 11 days. He was extremely proud to have worked in the Strategic Air Command as a member of the B-52 Bomber Program during both the Vietnam War and Korean Conflict. In 2018, he participated in the Honor Flight to honor his fellow service members from the Vietnam War and Korean Conflict. John was a hardworking man who was not afraid to put in an honest day’s labor. After his retirement from the military, he worked many odd jobs repairing motorcycle engines. He retired a second time from the United State Postal Service as a route delivery driver.

John was also a very kind and giving man. He loved to care for people and take care of those who needed help, no matter what the help was. On several occasions, he cared for neighbors who had declining health, attending to their needs as they were in their final days. He not only cared for his family and neighbors, but he also fostered children in his home to give them a home to feel safe in if only for a short while. In his younger years, he and his son John Jr raced and worked on motorcycles together.

John was a people person who as his family described, “Never met a stranger.” He enjoyed making people laugh with his witty humor or stories that usually ended with a little shock value to add to it. John was an intelligent man who was always thinking. He was a problem solver who would dig into every aspect of the issue at hand and find a resolution. This applied to home repairs, auto repairs, personal problems, and every situation that required his attention.

John is preceded in death by his first wife Carolyn (Crews) Sugden, his second wife Ann (Busch) Sugden, son John Sugden Jr, his parents and several siblings. Those left to cherish his memories are his daughters Deborah Ozuah (Chima), and Elizabeth Walker, sons Michael Sugden (Ron), and David Cooley (Kat); his remaining siblings, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many extended family and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a monetary donation be made in honor of John J. Sugden Sr. to The Panhandle War Memorial; 4111 S Georgia St. Amarillo, TX 79109, or at the provided link Texas Panhandle War Memorial Donation Site