John R. “Johnny” Champion, 79, of Orlando, Florida, died Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orange County, Florida.
Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M., Monday, April 30, 2012 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Irwin County, with the Rev. John Gibbs, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The body will lie-in-state one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary.
Mr. Champion was born May 20, 1932 in Tift County, Georgia to the late Clarence Paul and Lena Vernice Kennedy Champion. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, serving as a Hospital Corpsman attached to the 1st Marine Division FMF Pacific. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve after returning from Korea. Mr. Champion resided in Orlando for the past 50 years and was a former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He was a dedicated Christian who served his fellow man on the mission field. He worked with New Tribes Missions in Baker, Oregon and Jackson, Michigan, as well as the Brethren Navajo Mission Boarding School in Counselor, New Mexico. So loved was he by the Navajo children he ministered to, that many of them called him "Grandpa". Mr. Champion also served in the Chaplaincy program at the Orange County Jail on behalf of Good News Missions. He was a member, deacon, and Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church of Central Florida. He worked part-time for the past 20 years at Publix Supermarket in Orlando.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years: Velma Spicer Champion, sons and daughters-in-law: Michael & Gail Champion, R. Keith & Sarah Champion and former wife Shawn Champion, all of Orlando; daughter: Sheilah Champion of Orlando; and a brother: James Champion of Tifton; six grandchildren; and countless Navajo "grandchildren" as well. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Clarence Champion, II, and Benjamin Champion and a sister: Martha Walker.