John Adrian Worthington

John Adrian Worthington age 98 passed away Tuesday, October 31, 2023.  He was born on the family farm near Winterville NC on July 6th, 1925.  He was the son of Grover Cleveland Worthington and Hattie Sutton Worthington. His brothers were Lloyd, Carl (Tapp), Norman, Bryan Grimes, and Roger Gurman, His sisters were Danez and Rose.

John served in the US Army in World War Two and was Sergeant in Company L, 3rd Battalion,22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division., He fought in the Capture of Cherberg France, Battle for St Lo, the breakout from Normandy, the liberation of Paris, with the first US troops to enter Germany, Battle of Hurtgen Forest. and the campaign across the Rhine and the Danube to the Alps at Bad Tolz Germany. He was wounded several times and in the last wounding was in a hospital in Liege Belgium that was hit by a V1 German rocket, and he saw it coming straight at his window. Surviving that, he eventually recovered and returned to his squad. He received three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citations and was later made a Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor. 

 Dad returned home and farmed before attending NC State and receiving a degree in Agriculture Education. He taught Agriculture at Eureka High School and Pink Hill High School.  In 1964 he became Vocational Education Director for Lenoir County Schools. He attended night classes at NC State and received his Masters Degree in education while working for Lenoir County Schools and was promoted to an Assistant Superintendent position.   He retired from that position in January 1982 and went back to work for the Department of Education on Title IX Compliance and Certification Teams and also became an Adjunct Professor for N C State teaching education courses for teacher certification at local community colleges in the east. He finally completely retired in the 1990's.

He enjoyed traveling and working in his yard. 

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Thelma and his son John A Worthington Jr; his brother Roger Gurman Worthington and brother-in-law Elder D.B. Stokes and numerous nieces and nephews. 

A graveside service for family and close friends will be held at 11am Saturday Nov 4th, 2023 at the Worthington Family Cemetery in Winterville. (limited parking).

Memorial donations may be made in his memory and sent to Monument Memorial Fund, National 4th Infantry (IVY) Division Association, PO Box1914, St, Petersburg, MO 63376-0035,,,NOTE memo line MEMORIAL fund  this will be for the upkeep of the 4TH Division monuments in Europe.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Adrian Worthington, please visit our floral store.