Mr. John L. Hayden, 88, of Lebanon, passed away May 13, 2019, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
John was born Mar. 4, 1931, in Bloomington, a son of the late Rev. Robert E. and Mary (Kemp) Hayden. He married Doris Watkins Hay on July 18, 1970. She survives.
John graduated from Pike High School in 1949. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force for four years, flying in 48 missions during the Korean War as a radio operator on a bomber. John worked for GM in Indianapolis for 40 years, retiring on Apr. 1, 1989, as a senior reliability engineer. John loved nature and always enjoyed taking walks with his children and grandchildren; he loved being able to have “a window to the world.” John was a loving father and his family was always important to him; he always enjoyed any opportunity to be with his family, especially at family gatherings. John also enjoyed golfing during his retirement. He loved wintering in Fort Myers, FL with his wife, Doris.
John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, where he was a Deacon. He was also a former member of the Lebanon Lions Club and the Lebanon Elks Lodge. John was also involved for many years as a team manager for Lebanon Little League baseball, Babe Ruth, and the Senior Baseball League.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Hayden of Lebanon; children, Liz Hay of Lebanon, Maggie Shull of Indianapolis, Mike Hay of Guilford, CT, Jim Hayden of Martinsville, Mike Hayden of Mooresville, Jeanne Carlisle of Zionsville, and John Hayden, Jr. of Spencer; brothers, William (Arlene) Hayden of Crawfordsville and Harold D. (Ruth) Hayden of Plainfield; sisters, Sharon (Allen) Hatton of Jacksonville, FL and Linda Prage of Thorntown; grandchildren, Megan (Clint) Wilson, Jacqui Shull, Erika Shull, Olivia Hay, Carly Hay, James Hayden, Jr., Michele Foxworthy, Jennifer Wetter, Roxiann Newcomb, Jazz Carlisle, Latisha Briggs, Heather Duncan, and Tyler Hayden; and great-grandchildren, Elijah and Brooklyn Wilson, David and Zachary White, Kaiden Yant, Isaiah White, Steven and Erik Shull, Dustin, Reianna, and Morgan Hayden, Jakob Foxworthy, Jonathan, Christian, Lucian, and Oceana Wetters, Lauren and Kelly Newcomb, Taylor Gee, Jared Smith, and Aria, Kayden, and Wyatt Hayden.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, Frank Hayden; great-grandson, Nicholas Foxworthy; brothers, Robert Hayden and Ray Hayden; sister, Mary Ellen Hock; and brother-in-law, Stanley Prage.
Family and friends will gather Fri., May 17, 2019, for visitation from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and funeral services will be held on Sat., May 18, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. in the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon. John will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon. You are invited to visit the website www.strawmyerdrury.com where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message.
Memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Sunshine Social Club, P.O. Box 199, Whitestown, IN 46075 or to the Riley Children’s Foundation Camp Riley, 30 S. Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204
