Allison,

5/31/2021 I came across your fathers obituary. I am so very sorry for your loss! Your father was a wonderful man and I know how much you adored him. The sentiment was equally expressed by your father toward you. I offer you and your family my prayers and I appreciate the ability to have known him. May God shine upon you all and bless you. Please take care and thanks for all the wonderful memories.

Penny Gibson

I met John about a year ago.
Our weekly visits became one of the highlights of my week.
During my visits he would tell me stories about his childhood, his time in the Army, playing golf, owning his own company, being a driver, his daughter, baseball, and current events. I don’t think an adventure was missing from any of these stories. My favorite stories he told me were about Richmond. He knew so much history about the area. So many of his stories included places, events and people I was familiar with but he always had more nuanced information that would give me a broader understanding about Richmond.
I didn’t have any stories to tell him back that we’re as epic as his, so I took to telling him stories about the chickens and the farmer that lived next door. Every week he would ask me what was going on with “The Farmer” and the chickens. During all of these stories his sense of humor had me laughing every visit. I can’t describe how much I miss my weekly time with John.
Whenever it was time for me leave he would get a spark in his eyes and tell me, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And I would say, “Thanks! Now, I know I’m going to have a fun week!”

So grateful to have met and spent time with Allison's father. What a kind, gentle soul, filled with love and a zest for life. Always had great stories, a smile, lots of laughs. Also so blessed to have Allison in our lives. Thank you John for raising such a fabulous daughter. She will continue your work.

I met John about 15 years ago while doing cross country dealer auto exchange trips. Over the past years we rode thousands of miles together. I enjoyed his friendship and will miss him greatly. John was a great guy, always full of humor. I will never forget him. May he rest in peace

From Melba:  I always enjoyed meeting John for a biscuit and coffee at Hardees. Allison, he was always telling us of your accomplishments and latest fishing trips, etc.  He loved you so much and was so proud of you as his daughter. 

John was a good man. I have known him for years. Good golfer and even better card player . We played Boot and Hand for a long time. Six people played and John was the luckiest man at drawing good cards. If he went to Vegas, he would have broken the bank. We will all miss him . God speed John .

We've all heard the saying "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family." Well, I couldn't have chosen a better family to be born into. I owe so much to Uncle John and all of his siblings, half sibling, step siblings, and all of their spouses. They helped me learn how to fish, how to pump gas and work on cars, How you can enjoy golf even if you are not very good, how to hunt rabbits, how to live harmoniously with people of differing temperaments, and much more.

John was closest in age to my dad, Harry, and I could tell they had a special bond. Always lots of stories and laughs. I have several photos of them together from the '30s, and in all of them they seem so happy and huggy -- genuine heart-felt affection. John always seemed to enjoy his work and, by the stories he would tell, made it sound like loads of fun. Teen-age me would have been delighted to be a service station attendant or mechanic or car salesman.

John's life was not without trials, but somehow he managed to to keep an even keel, a winning and easygoing manner, and a wonderful sense of humor. I'll always admire him and be grateful for the chance to be his nephew. Rest in peace, John. We miss you already.

I was very sadden to learn today of John's passing, I first meet John at 12 years of age when we attended Bainbridge Jr. High together and on through John Marshall High School. I was reacquainted with John much later in life and we were able to spend a good deal of time together , fishing, traveling to his old home place and meeting ever Sunday morning with him and my wife at Hardees for a biscuit. He was a good friend always full of humor and a ready laugh. I enjoyed our fellowship greatly and will miss him....Ray Lester

It was very sad for me to hear of the passing of John. He was always a gentleman to me, a friend and a true competitor in everything he attempted. He was a very good friend of my dad, which is how I came to know him in the late 60's. I had the privilege of caddying for him a few times and let me tell you, he could play golf against anyone in Richmond.
My dad, Zeke, and John played a lot of golf matches together and talked on the phone a lot, along with George Whitaker in the 60's . My dad told me years later how much he always enjoyed John and George. They were more like brothers as they shared having all been in WW II, a love of golf, and all 3 were true competitors who hated to lose at anything.
I joined MCC in 1997 and had the pleasure of playing many rounds of golf with and against John, or Dada as we called him. And playing cards in the grill with John for the last 20 some years, I totally understand what my dad said about John's competitiveness.
My father passed in 1994 and John always made a point of asking how my mother was. I appreciated so much him doing that and showing he really cared how his friend's wife was doing.
Unfortunately, my mother passed away this past Christmas morning to be with her Lord and Savior. I hope she will tell John thank you from me for being my friend along with Zeke ( John and George called him Sarge too). Thank you for letting me share this with you Allison.

When John, my brother in law, met you he made me and each person feel that they were the most important person in the world. John had a quiet chuckle that made me feel happy.
Once when my mother need a new car, she and I went to see John since he was selling cars at the time. John sold my mother a new Dodge Dart Swinger (1972). We laughed that Mother was driving a sporty looking green car with a black vinyl top called a "Swinger".
I will miss John"s big hugs and jovial comments. John was very special to me.

I was so very sad to read this news. John Andrews came into my life through his daughter, Allison. What a fine man he was! I enjoyed his easygoing manner, his stories about his life. He wore a Korean War Veteran hat. I was born in Korea and adopted when I was a baby. When I told him I was going to do my DNA test to find out if I had bloodline parents or family, he joked, “I know, you may be trying to find out if I am your father.” (We laughed.) Of course, when results came, I told him, “John, I am truly sorry I found out you are not my father, after all.” (We laughed about that, too.) I had a wonderful adopted father. John loved his daughter! I told John that the closeness of his relationship with Allison reminded me of my own late father and me. He said, “I am the luckiest father, with Allison.”

After John and I divorced, we remained good friends until his death. He'd laughingly call my current husband his "husband-in-law", and we all got together for Allison's graduations, sports events, art events and various parties through the years. Don't recall ever having even the smallest disagreement about Allison's wellbeing. He adored her from the moment she was born.

John lived every day to the fullest - (doing it his way for sure). At age 30, he played golf for the first time and won the city tournament only 2 or 3 years later. He was a winner at the Valentine and numerous club championships - truly gifted.

When he became disabled, unable to drive, and a recluse due to his health and COVID, I asked Allison if he was depressed. She laughed and said, "He doesn't have that gene!"

His laugh, keen sense of humor and love of life will be missed by most who knew him.

May he rest in peace.

Ann Andrews McConnell

Some fond memories of my “Big brother”, John Andrews.

In my early teens I delivered morning newspapers and generally started
about 5:30-6:00am. When it was raining very hard, I would ask him if
he could help me by using his car. Often, he had been out late the night
before (probably a hot date) and would groan as he sat up on the edge
of the bed. But after a minute or so to be completely awake, he dressed
and off we went.

In midteens, like others my age I wanted a car. I had an after-school job
but the pay was not so great. However, John found me a car and had, I’m
sure, already negotiated the price lower. So, for $100 I became the proud owner
of a 1947 Nash Coupe.

John operated ESSO service stations at that time and was also an excellent
mechanic. He generously helped me through needed repairs and maintenance
of my first car as well as several others that followed.

He bought a new 1955 Buick Century and let me use it a couple of times to
impress dates. Very sporty car!

In my late teens – early twenties, he taught me to play golf. And sometimes
would take my best friend, Tom Millner with us. We laughed a lot at some
of the erratic shots Tom and I would hit.

Speaking of golf, I regularly teased John that he used up most of the golf
talent allotted to our family and left very little for me. I have always believed
that if he could have had a financial back to get him started, he would have
done well on the PGA tour.

When he married Allison’s mom, I was so very honored to be his Best Man.
And when I married Kay, I was proud to have him as my Best Man.

All my life I have been proud to call him my brother but also advisor and
friend.

God bless you my brother.

From my perspective, John Andrews was the best father a girl could have. Growing up, he always engaged with me and included me in many of his activities. I was always invited to drive his golf cart when he played at MCC, which was just about daily. On Saturdays, I frequently went with him to work. First, I would skate at Skateland for a couple of hours then walk nextdoor to his shop and help him work on cars. He enjoyed my curiosity and desire to understand how things worked. Put it this way, I learned how to change the oil in my car and adjust the timing belt years before I was able to drive. And, he taught me how to drive and gave me a car before I had a learner’s permit.

One time, we took a car engine apart, replaced something and re-assembled the engine. There was a spare part lying on the shop floor afterwards that I was certain we had accidentally left out. I said, “Hey Dad, there’s a part on the floor, do we need to put that back in the engine?” He responded, “Well, it’s better to have extra parts than not enough.” Then he chuckled and lit a cigarette. He had a great sense of humor.

I played tennis and softball from early youth through high school. He had an affinity for all things baseball and he particularly enjoyed women’s softball. In all those years, I don’t think he missed a single softball game or tennis tournament. He usually arrived right as the game was starting or a few minutes after. I have memories etched in my mind of him walking up to the ball field stirring his drink with his finger (back in the day, he enjoyed his adult beverages!). And, when we got into scuffles with the opposing team, he was in the stands rooting for us, yelling, “Pull her hair!” He took us out for pizza after the games so often, he received a game ball signed by the team, which he displayed in his home like a trophy.

He always embraced my friends. He wrestled and played with us when we were children and in my adult years, he became a regular at my friends’ social gatherings, concerts and art events. And they loved him too, especially the ladies. They doted over him and flirted endlessly, and he loved every minute of it. He was a natural lady charmer!

When I think of Dad, the prominent image of him in my mind is when he was at the height of his golf game (scratch golf anyone?!). He was handsome, strong, funny, a man’s man and a lady’s man.

He never missed an opportunity to hug me or tell me that he loved me. Anytime I walked into the room, his eyes lit up. There was never a doubt in my mind, or anyone who knew us, that he loved me unconditionally.

Best.Father.Ever.