FREDERICKTOWN – William John Houston Lunn, 77, passed away on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, after a short illness. He was born on May 26, 1943, in Ballyoran, Northern Ireland, to the late Richard and Mabel née Stanfield Lunn.
As a young man, John was an enthusiastic cyclist, soccer player and competitive runner. Graduating from Technical College in 1959, John had obtained a Scottish “Higher” certificate qualification. As an apprentice, he worked for Mackies International Engineering Company in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Following his apprenticeship, he went on to study mechanical engineering at Belfast Engineering Institute.
John joined the Royal Air Force, serving with the RAF Ariel Communications crew and received the Radfan Campaign medal for service in Yemen. In 1966, he worked for Plessey International Engineering Company and traveled to places all over the world, such as Africa, Iran and India.
Following his dreams of working and living in the U.S., the Lunn family moved to Fredericktown in 1975, where John worked for Cooper Energy Services and Cooper Rolls Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Liverpool, England, for 37 years. After a little hesitation, John retired in 2011 from Rolls Royce as the chief engineer on the “Trent project.” In his retirement, he bought an Airstream to go camping with his grandson and family. John was a wonderful story-teller; he enjoyed sharing his worldly adventures. He was known to some as a great mentor who expressed a wealth of knowledge and experience through hard work and commitment.
John’s hobbies included photography — especially wildlife and family. He enjoyed reading, gardening and taking long walks with his loyal canine companion “Tetley.” He was also a big fan of cycling and was able to go on a trip to watch the Tour de France and cheer on his favorite rider. He was interested in clocks and timepieces, tractors, vintage cars and planes. There were many trips to airshows, car shows and open farmers markets. His unusual talent was to recite the names of places around the United Kingdom to the BBC shipping forecast, along with a poem or two from his favorite English poet, John Betjeman. Not to forget his love of music and bands — such as Dire Straits and The Eagles.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Elizabeth née Davis; son, Jonathan; grandchildren, Milo and Erin, of England; daughter, Emma and grandson Calum of Columbus, Ohio; cousin, Harold Logan and family of Northern Ireland; brother-in-law, Colin Davis of Northern Ireland; and sister-in-law, Angela Barriskill, of Northern Ireland.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, at Union Grove Cemetery in Gambier, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Mission, Worthington, OH 43085.
To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Northwest.
