John William Bottomley was born in Utica, Illinois, June 26, 1923. He passed away at the age of 102 years and 5 months Nov. 15, 2025, near Lake Almanor, California, where he lived for the last 40 years.
During World War II John served in the South Pacific as a corporal in the United States Army Air Corps. He was in charge of secret documents, which contained orders for maneuvers and other important information.
John was proceeded in death by his wife, Betty Bottomley; mother, Harriet Bottomley; father, Leland Bottomley; sister, Stella Bottomley; sister, Betty Flynn; brother, Duffer Bottomley; and his two sons, Douglas Bottomley and Raymond Bottomley.
John has one surviving brother, Leland Bottomley (Elaine); three surviving children, Terianne Bottomley Amedee ( Jim), John Bottomley, Jr. (Felicisima), and Holly Schaad (Paul); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren – too numerous to mention.
John was honored Dec. 2 with a military honors funeral and laid to rest next to his loving wife, Betty, in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress.
A Celebration of Life will be held in June near Lake Almanor, where John was a longtime resident and a locally honored and respected veteran – the oldest living World War II veteran in the area.
He was loved by everyone and will be sorely missed by all.