John Paul Linscomb

Aug. 16, 1924-May 24, 2003

I was born in West Plains, Missouri, on August 16, 1924. My parents are Bill and Mary King, who grew up on a farm south of West Plains. We moved to Baxter Springs, Kansas, when I was a small boy where I attended grade school through high school on the same block. Our family consists of Frances Louise, Jacob William, and John Clifford, and myself. We are a close and loving family, always supporting and loving each other through the years. After being graduated from Baxter Springs High School, I attended Pittsburgh State Teachers College for one year and worked weekends and summers at Jane E. Mining Company. 

I entered the army, May, 1943. While stationed in Manhattan, Kansas, as an aviation student, Juanita Milholland, my high school sweetheart and I were married December 24, 1943. From there, I went to Santa Barbara, California, Monterrey, California, Camp Bowie, Brownwood, Texas, and Camp Barkley, Abilene, Texas. I was sent to the war zone in Europe in November, 1944. At the end of the war in Europe, I was stationed at Fort Wadsworth, New York, until I was discharged in February, 1946. We then moved to Rosiclare, Illinois, where I was employed with the Ozark Mining Company. We were there two and one half years when we decided it was time for me to continue my education. We moved to Rolla, Missouri, where I attended the University of Missouri, and was graduated May, 1951, with a chemical engineering degree. While attending college, I worked summers with a surveying crew in Rosiclare. After graduation, I was employed as a chemical engineer with Koppers Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1958, we were transferred to New Jersey, to help construct, start up and operate a high-density polyethylene plant, of which I was later named Plant Manager. In New Jersey, we lived in Lincroft. This is a beautiful area with orchards, vegetable gardens, and horse farms. 

We enjoyed trips to New York City, sightseeing and visiting the theatres. We spent vacations camping in the state and national parks of the East and Middle West. I was active in Boy Scouts with my two oldest sons. One summer, we went on a fifty-mile hike in the Green Mountains of Vermont: thirty boys and two leaders. We also did winter camping every year in New York State. I was a coach in Little League with our three sons. We were transferred to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1968, with National Plastics Company, as General Manager over the plants in Kansas City and Tampa, Florida. We were there until November, 1969, when we were transferred to Port Arthur, Texas, with Sinclair Koppers Company, as manager of their polyethylene plant, which later became Atlantic Richfield Company. I retired in October, 1983. My favorite activities are gardening and fishing, and being with my children and grandchildren. We have stayed active in the Church through the years, where I serve as deacon. We are currently members of Fletcher Emanuel Church Alive in Lumberton, Texas. 

We have many wonderful friends and neighbors. Juanita and I have five children: Nita Diane Hargett and husband, Christopher, Mary Susan Baker and husband, Leslie B., all of Lumberton, Texas, James Melvin King and wife, Kathryn, of Sugar Land, Texas, John William King and wife, Deborah, of Beaumont, Texas, and Robert Warren King and wife, Cindy, of Elk Grove, California. We have twenty grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and two on the way. They are a joy to us. Three of my favorite passages are Psalm 127, Psalm 128 and Psalm 23. "Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward; as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of his youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with the enemies at the gate." 

Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. at Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home with burial to follow at Beaumont Haven of Rest Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. 

Source: Beaumont Enterprise, The (TX) - May 26, 2003