John Sherman Crooks, 88, formerly of Syracuse, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at Holzer Senior Care Center in Bidwell, due to declining health after a hip fracture. John was born on November 25, 1923, in Syracuse, Ohio. He was the son of Orville Alexander and Lura Naomi (Kay) Crooks.

He attended grade school at Carleton College and Syracuse Elementary; and graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1942. He entered the U. S. Army in 1943. While serving his country in World War II in Europe, he was wounded in action. He was in the 109th Infantry Regiment, Sixth Armored Division, as an Ammunition Carrier, involved in battles at Normandy, Rhineland, Northern France and Central Europe. He received a Purple Heart in 1944, a Bronze Star, and an Honorable Discharge in October 1945. John then returned to Ohio and went to Columbus to attend Franklin University, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He was employed as a design engineer for North American Rockwell in Columbus for 18 years. He worked for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri, for about a year before returning to Columbus to take employment with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail handler at the main office. He retired in 1990. John was proud of his country and was a life member of the DAV.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Eileen (Lisle) Crooks, whom he married on November 14,1948, at the United Methodist Church in Syracuse. They were married 52 years prior to her death.

John is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and James Lawrence of Syracuse, and Patricia and Robert Schleppi of Hilliard, Ohio; grandchildren: Jennifer Lawrence (Ryan Brown) of Marina Del Rey, California; Jason Lawrence (Robyn Stump) of Columbus, Ohio; Kelly (Jeb) Phillips of Columbus, Ohio; and John (Amanda) Schleppi of Hilliard; great-grandchildren: Maggie and Noah Schleppi; along with a few cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy. Burial will follow in Letart Falls Cemetery where military funeral honors will be presented by Post #39 of the American Legion. Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home, prior to the service.

An on-line registry is available at www.andersonmcdaniel.com.