John Joseph Canning

John J Canning

Memorial service and celebration of life for John Joseph Canning, 95, of Enid, Oklahoma will be at 10 o’clock am on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at New Hope UMC of Enid.  The Reverend Diana Pruitt will officiate. Services are under the direction of Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service.

John was born on December 31, 1927 in Reno County, Kansas to Joe and Elma Canning. He was the youngest of four children, three of which were girls. John went home to Heaven at the Arbors Assisted Living Center in Enid on March 26, 2023, surrounded by family and the loving caregivers of Elara Hospice and the Arbors.

After spending 2 years in the US Navy, he returned to Plevna and Hutchinson Kansas and attended  Kansas University for 3 semesters, then completed a 2 year Business Management course at Adela Hale Business School in Hutchinson. There he met the love of his life, Barbara Kay Wentworth. They were married July 29, 1951 and were together for 63 years. To this marriage 4 children were born. Virginia (Ginny), Bonnie, John Gregory, and Joseph.

John had a great love of golfing, fishing, spending time with family and traveling with Barbara and his many friends. One of his favorite trips were the family trips to Red River, New Mexico.

John worked for Hughes Tool Company for more than 30 years.Being in the oilfield business, the family moved several times,all to different locations in Kansas and Oklahoma. In 1971 the family moved to Enid, Oklahoma where they stayed. After retirement he went into the business of selling drill bits on his own for many more years.

John is survived by his daughter Bonnie Valtr (Dennis), Enid, John G, Enid, Joe (Tana), Kingston, Oklahoma, eight grandchildren, Traci Schulz Darosa (Marcelo) of Euless, TX, Jonathan Bocox, of Denver, CO., Carla Townsend (Tom) of Owasso, Jacob Canning (Stacie) of Enid, Brian Canning of Ft Worth, TX, Kaelyn Hedges (Hesston) of Fairmont, Sara Harwood (Steven) of Enid, and Lyndsey Wilder (Val) of Ft Worth, TX.  Also surviving are seven great grandchildren, TysenTownsend, Mikayla Darosa, Abigail Canning, Serenity Canning,Aiden Canning, Jett and Jaxon Hedges.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his four older sisters, his wife Barbara, his daughter Ginny Canning Schulz, and daughter-in-law Iola Canning.

Memorials may be made to the Arbors Assisted Living Center or Elara Hospice. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful love and care John received from the Arbors and from Elara and thank them so much for everything they did for him.

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