John Earl Laws

John Earl Laws, (92), of Sidney, Ohio passed away on March 13, 2024, surrounded by his immediate family.

He passed peacefully. John was born in Sidney Ohio on March 29, 1931, to Everett and Lula Laws. He was blessed with an older sister, Alberta (Laws) Campbell, and younger brother Merle Laws. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Edna Mae (Bertsch) Laws. He was the proud father of sons John (Kimberly) Laws of Cincinnati, Ohio, and James (Karen) Laws of Columbus, Ohio, and was the very proud grandfather of Dr. Payton Laws of Seattle, WA, and McKeon Laws of Morgantown, WV.

Following graduation from Sidney High School in 1949, where he excelled as a student and musician, he joined the US Navy attending basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He was assigned to a Naval Radar Guided Bombing School (Memphis, TN) for advanced training followed by assignment to the VP1 Patrol Bombing Squadron (Merritt Island, WA). He gained the nickname "4.0" as he never failed to attain 100% on every Naval exam.

As the Korean War spun up VP1 was called into action to provide ship and submarine interdiction and low-level bombing support for the US Marines. John served two nine-month combat tours with VP1 totaling nearly 1,000 combat flight hours. On one occasion the plane returned to base with over 29 holes all near critical systems. Upon landing, the ground crew chief was amazed that the pilots were able to keep the plane in the air for the two-hour flight back to base. He retired from the Navy in 1955 as a First-Class Electronics Specialist and returned to his lovely wife and their hometown, Sidney, Ohio.

John worked at several blue-collar jobs in Sidney until securing a position as a USPS carrier in 1956. Working there for 30+ years he moved up the career ladder to Assistant Postmaster in Sidney, Ohio. Recognized for superior effort and work ethic, John spent his last four years as a Postal Inspector tracking operational problems across the country. During these years he was active in Sidney Kiwanis and St John's Lutheran Church.

Retirement didn't turn into rest for John as he worked with the Gideons to deliver Bibles in the Caribbean Islands and Central America. This work kindled his interest in politics where he served 1 term as Clinton Township Trustee followed by two terms as a Shelby County Commissioner. During this time, he joined the Boards of Sidney Christian School and the Ohio Living Dorothy Love, taught at American Legion Buckeye Boys State leadership seminars, and enjoyed singing with Sidney Singing Soldiers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ with Rev. Jim Oates. Please no flowers. Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home in Sidney is handling the funeral arrangements.

Donations can be made to Sidney Christian Academy, 2151 W Russell Rd, Sidney, OH 45365. Please note this is for the John Laws Memorial Scholarship fund.