Minden LA

John Irving

A celebration of Mr. John Irving's Life will be Saturday, August 23, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church, of Minden with Rev. Phil McClarty officiating assisted by Rev. Bobby Wadsworth. Visitation, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., services following at 11 a.m. Interment will be held at Gardens of Memory, Minden, Louisiana under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden. John was born November 1, 1940, in Crowley, Louisiana to parents, Andrew and Doris Irving, and died August 19, 2014, in his wife's arms, at home, of a sudden illness, on the day of John and Frances 54^th wedding anniversary. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and a much-loved mother-in-law, Stella Hollis. Survived by loving wife, Frances Lorraine Irving, daughters Mary Beth Love (Jeff), Sharon Gorman (B.J.), five precious grandchildren, Nicholas Love, Caroline Gorman, Benjamin Love, Grant Gorman, and Chase Gorman. A special sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Willie and Bob Gossett, dear friends, Jo and Don McCullough, Yvonne and Hal Jackson, very special niece and nephews, Dr. Mark and Kathleen Kraemer, Warren Collie, several grandnieces, cousins and friends. John received his B.S. and Master's Degree from Louisiana Tech University, in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he began his career at General Dynamics, in Fort Worth, Texas. After leaving Ft. Worth, he went to work for NASA, on the Apollo Program, as a lead engineer. John and Frances moved to Minden in 1966, when John worked at the Louisiana Ordnance Plant. He began his own business, Minden Plastics, in Minden, and also Engineered Products in Bossier City, Louisiana. He had a plant in Missouri and Arkansas. After retirement, John was Director of Engineering at Cellxion in Bossier City, Louisiana until his death. He was a life-long Presbyterian and a member of Minden Presbyterian for 47 years. He loved his church and church family, dearly, and was a Session Member. John was currently serving on the LAPELS Board in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the board of Louisiana Tech Engineering School. He loved his family, his church, traveling the world, collecting antique toy trains, nascar, and was a proud fan of the Bulldogs at Louisiana Tech University. Pallbearers will be Dr. Mark Kraemer, Jeff Love, B.J. Gorman, Warren Collie, Nicholas Love, Don McCullough, Hal Jackson, and Al Dumas. Honorary pallbearers will be The Upper Room Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to Minden Presbyterian Church, 1001 Broadway, Minden, Louisiana, 71055.