John E. Farley

John E. Farley, 80, a resident of Eldridge, Iowa died on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, April 10, 2006 at the Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be from 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Monday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday at the Lanark Cemetery, Lanark, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the American Cancer Society.
He was born in Centerville, Iowa on December 16, 1925, the son of Earl & Anna Bernice (Andrews) Farley. John spent his early years in the Centerville area, but at age 15 his family moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he was graduated from Davenport High School. After high school, John joined the Merchant Marines where, during World War II, he was serving on the S. S. Edward Bates when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean. The crew was rescued by an English Corvette ship, which then took them to Algiers. From Algiers they were sent to Casablanca and the on to Norfolk, Va. John was drafted into the Army and completed his military service with the Army in the Panama Canal Zone.
After the war, John returned to Davenport and, in 1947, married Leona Beyer. The couple resided in the Davenport area until 1955 when they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where John joined Remington-Rand Univac (in the early days of computers) as an electronic technician. They remained in Minnesota until 1963, when John accepted a position with Alvey-Ferguson in Cincinnati, Ohio. They lived in the Cincinnati area until 1984, when John retired from Litton Unit Handling Systems, as an electrical engineer, and he and Leona returned to the Davenport area. They settled into Eldridge, Iowa, where they have lived for the past 17 years.
Recreationally, John was an accomplished sailplane pilot who logged more than 1200 flight hours while a member of the Soaring Society of Dayton. Among his soaring distinctions were a Gold Badge distance and a Diamond Badge goal . He was a skilled golfer in his younger days, and most recently was an active member of the Davenport Radio Controlled Aircraft Club. He also enjoyed time spent with his family.
John is survived by his wife, Leona (Lea), his son, John Jr., of Cupertino, California, two granddaughters, Anna, age 25, and Casey, age 14; his sisters, June (Richard) Henneman and Jean Smith, both of Davenport, Iowa and a number of nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger son, Michael Jay.