John V. Billman, Jr., 87, passed away June 4, 2023, at home with his beloved wife and loving family at his side.
He was born June 12, 1935, in Carmel, California, to John and Dorothy Billman.
John attended Junipero Serra School at the Carmel Mission and graduated from Carmel High School. He had a love for horses, especially his horse Ricardo, which he rode from Carmel Valley to Salinas Valley to participate in rodeos.
He served in the Marine Corps for three years and was appointed a Lance corporal in 1958. John was very proud of his service to his country.
After his honorable discharge, he began his 35 years of dedicated service working at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California. It was also during this time that he began his romance with the love of his life. In 1964, John met Dolores Caprara at St. Theodore’s Church in Gonzales, California. His introduction, “Pardon me miss, my name is John Billman,” began it all. They were married in 1966 by his uncle, Father Joseph Bowden Billman OMI, and were happily married for 57 years. John and Dolores were blessed with three children.
John had a passion for education and a desire to write.
While working at the Correctional Training Facility and raising his children with his wife in Salinas, California, he graduated from San Jose State University. There he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism with a minor in Psychology.
After his retirement from counseling in 1996, he enjoyed traveling with his wife to many special places and especially enjoyed a train ride across the United States.
He was a devoted Catholic. He shared his love for life with his family, taking many trips together. He loved spending time camping in Yosemite, attending the Salinas California Rodeo, boogying at the Dixieland Jazz Festival, reading, and writing. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his children, and, later his grandchildren, affectionately known as his “sugarplums,” who to this day share his love for Yosemite and God. In recent years, he dedicated himself to completing a book about the life of his godfather, Harry Downie, titled Harry Downie: A Man and His Mission.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Billman; children John B. Billman (Greta), Brendan Billman (Karen), and Anne Marci (Tony); 7 grandchildren, Breanne, Nicholas, John, Dominic, Kelly, Sarah, and Ben; many devoted cousins, nieces, and nephews; and his sister, Josephine Donangelo (Frank). He was predeceased by his parents.
John was a modest man who will forever be remembered for his strong faith and sense of moral values, his witty jokes, his talent for writing, and his devotion to family.
The viewing will be held Monday, June 19, 2023, from 3-6 pm, with a rosary directly following at 6 pm, at Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel, 41 W San Luis St, Salinas, CA. The funeral will be held on June 20, 2023, at 9:30 am, at Sacred Heart Church, 22 Stone St., Salinas, CA. A graveside service will follow at his final resting place at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 850 Abbott St, Salinas, CA.
Contributions in memory of John V. Billman, Jr., can be made to a charity of choice.