John N. DeFoore Sr., 105, of Boerne, Texas, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 29, 2024, in the company of his loving family.

John was born June 12, 1919, in Sidon, Mississippi. Raised on the banks of the Yazoo River, John grew up surrounded by cotton fields and dense forests. He left home at age 17 and went to work with a highway construction group.

While he was enrolled in Mississippi College, soon after he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private. In the coming months, World War II began and John was very quickly advanced to the rank of second lieutenant.

While serving at Camp Blanding in Florida, John was responsible for training a group of 1,300 troops. He said, “I didn’t want the job, but they told me if I would do it, they would let me take my pick of the top 268 to take into combat. So, that’s what I did.”

“One time after a 35-mile march in full gear, there were some guys standing around kind of questioning my strength as a leader because I was a fairly new second lieutenant. So, on a dare, I did 150 push-ups in front of my troops.”

Then, in Command of a Canon Company, John was deployed to New Guinea and code-named “Long John.” On what would become his last assignment, the only two other members of his patrol perished, leaving John as the sole survivor.

Alone in the jungle, he evaded the enemy for two or three weeks. When he made it back to safety, he was transported to a field hospital and eventually arrived in New York Harbor 30 days later aboard a US hospital ship on May 8, 1945, VE Day.

During his time in the military, from private first class to major, John was awarded numerous insignia and badges, and 11 medals including the Bronze Star for Service during an amphibious landing on Morotai, Island.

Of the 268 men he led in battle, there were approximately 200 survivors. At the time of his passing, John was the last of these men left standing.

After the war, John was ordained as a Baptist minister, graduated from Mississippi College with a bachelor’s degree, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in theology. Over the years, John did further study at New College in Edinburgh, Scotland, Princeton, Harvard and the Jungian Institute in Zurich, Switzerland.

John served as a missionary in Alaska, pastored churches in Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas, and built orphanages and nursing homes in Mexico.

During his career as a minister, John preached the gospel and led countless individuals to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a popular speaker and teacher and was televised for many years, giving regular sermons and lessons which were broadcast across west and south Texas.

John had a second career as a counselor, psychotherapist and international business consultant traveling the world for 35 years to England, India, China and Hong Kong. John retired from this practice at 98 years of age. In John’s final years, he spent his days writing and reading. After his retirement, John wrote more than a dozen books.

John is preceded in death by his parents Gray George DeFoore (Ann Judson “Granna”), siblings Grady S. DeFoore (“Beth”), Mary Frances DeFoore Simpson (Clark), Charles W. DeFoore (Ruby Jane), and Judson G. DeFoore (“Myrt”); his first wife, Zola Estelle Topp DeFoore; his oldest son, John N. DeFoore Jr.; and his granddaughter, Allison DeFoore Taylor.

John is survived by his wife, Marion Sue Jones DeFoore of Boerne, Texas; three sons, William G. (Cindy) DeFoore of Aubrey, Texas, Richard G. (Janet) DeFoore of Anson, Texas, and Marney W. (Pam) DeFoore of San Antonio, Texas; two stepsons, Clayton S. ( Danita) Jones of Boerne, Texas, and Clifton M. Jones of Austin, Texas; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and their families — all so dearly loved.

John’s unceasing love of God and country, lives on in a never-ending legacy for his entire family.

A memorial service was scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 31 Ammann Road, Boerne, 78015.

A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 3, 2024, at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home, 910 US 82, Greenwood, Mississippi 38930, with graveside services to be held at 2:30 p.m. at Sidon Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Sidon, 38954.

Donations can be sent to: Mississippi College “50-Year Club Scholarship Fund: In Memory of John DeFoore,” 200 S. Capitol St., Clinton, Mississippi 39056.