John Harrell

LOUISVILLE - John Robert "Johnny Bob" Harrell, 99, of Louisville passed away at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Lutheran Care Center in Altamont, Illinois.

John was born on January 16, 1922 in Xenia, Illinois to Jerome and Natalie (Moore) Harrell. John married Betty Lou Clark on March 24, 1945 in Enid, Oklahoma and they shared 65 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on November 6, 2010.

John graduated from North Clay High school and attended college in Springfield, Illinois where he played basketball.

Mr. Harrell was a B25 Bomber Pilot and Flight Instructor in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a prominent businessman who owned and operated a mausoleum company, movie theatre, skating rink, and many other businesses throughout his years. He owned several airplanes throughout his life, was an avid pilot, and he loved to fly. He was privileged to be able to fly to Washington, D.C., to attend the entombment of the Unknown Soldiers of World War II and the Korean War.

In 1959, John was diagnosed with cancer and he and his wife Betty experienced a miraculous healing. That experience propelled him into a new direction of laboring for God and Country which continued until his death. He is the founder of the Christian Conservative Church and Christian Patriots Defense League, as well as many other organizations.

John is survived by 5 children: Tod (Bernadine) Harrell of Evansville, Indiana; Xon (Pat) Harrell of Xenia; Debra (Anthony) Barlow of Merrillville, Indiana; Jeb Harrell, Farina; and Rebekah (the late Brent) Burgess, Flora. He is also survived by a son-in-law Terry Stewart of Ingraham, and 11 grandchildren: Rhea Huddlestun, Patrick Harrell, Diana Matlock, Tiffany Akers, Matthew Harrell, Corey Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, Olivia Coons, Michael Barlow, Dexter Burgess, and Deandra Burgess, as well as 9 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Mr. Harrell was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Eugene Harrell, a son Jon Lance Harrell, a daughter Cathy Ann Stewart, a grandson Spencer Troy Harrell, and a son-in-law Brent Burgess.

Funeral services honoring the life of John will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at the McGriff & Triplett Funeral Home in Louisville. A visitation will be held on Tuesday evening at the funeral home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Kelly Carruthers will be officiating the service. An entombment will follow at the Orchard Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Louisville Baptist Church.

To sign the guestbook online and leave a memory, please visit www.mcgriffandtriplettfh.com.

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