John Percival Meyer

John Percival Meyer, age 80 of Maryville passed away Saturday, October 25, 2014. A snappy dresser, a man with a fondness for a good nap, a guy always up for a fun evening out, a fellow who looked and acted like Santa Claus with his suspenders, snow white beard, generous loving spirit and eye twinkle, "the Best Man I Ever Knew" according to his son Will, John Percival Meyer died just before the really cold weather (which he hated) blew in from the north. Born and raised in Westfield, Massachusetts, John attended Dartmouth College. Graduating in 1955, he next spent the then mandatory time with the US Armed Services. After a particularly good day on the shooting range at his training camp in Texas, he was handpicked by a general to be stationed in England. Most of his fellow solider trainees headed off to North Korea, but John used his new posting to lure a new bride, Margaret Mary Thompson, a recent Mt. Holyoke graduate, over for a year-long honeymoon in England, Scotland and Wales. After their return to the states and release from the army, John attended Wharton Business School. As soon as he graduated and became employed, his wife gave birth to the first of their five children. Many years were spent working his way up through a series of jobs mostly in the paper processing industry finally ending up as president of Hamilton Hybar, a company he helped found in Richmond, VA. Those Richmond years were the glory years for John. He loved cocktails at day's end with his wife, any time spent with his kids (he was especially noted for his generous allowances which were spent on copious amounts of candy and comic books), his family's annual vacations to Nags Head with a stay at the Sand Dollar (which his family dubbed the "Sad Dollar"), and especially his friends and colleagues at Hamilton Hybar where they and the staff at Saito's entertained legions of customers. Suffering from ill health almost all of his life, John was a trooper who complained little, but still managed to utter a few choice words about his predicament. Always generous, always kind, always seeing the best in people, he was the family peacemaker and fun maker. John is predeceased by his lovely parents, Percival Earl and Dorothy Maude Snow Meyer, his beloved wife Margaret Mary Thompson, and his wonderful daughter, Mary Elizabeth Meyer Radford. Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Daphne Meyer, his daughter, Katherine Ann Spratt and her husband Jack, Mary's husband, John Radford, his son William Henry Meyer and his wife Miriam, his daughter Sarah Frances Sadler and her husband, Andy, his son John Frederick Meyer and his wife Dawn and fourteen amazing grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the caregivers who so lovingly gave their time and efforts to him in his later years particularly Mary Grant and Debi Smith. At last year's extravaganza combo Meyer family event celebrating Thanksgiving and Grandpa's 80th birthday, the family recounted 80 things we love about Grandpa. We could have easily said 800 more things and it still wouldn't be enough. He was, in short, an easy man to love. His ashes will be interred with his wife at the Old Church cemetery in Old Church, VA not far from the dream home they built shortly before his retirement. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, 983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Percival Meyer please visit our Sympathy Store.