John E. Southwood

John E. Southwood died on March 28, 2020, after a valiant 9-month battle with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 71 years old. John was born on November 24, 1948, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Helen and Al Southwood. He was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as his savior at a young age. He graduated with a B.S. in Business Management from Purdue University and then earned a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He returned to Purdue to serve in campus ministry at Purdue Christian Campus House, where he developed his love of small group bible study. While at Purdue, he met and then married his wife of 43 years, Jane Southwood. He is survived by his wife Jane and their four children: Amy Carey (Craig) of Hattiesburg, MS; Mark Southwood of Thousand Oaks, CA; Andrew Southwood (Micah) of Pittsburgh, PA; and Chris Southwood (Jessica) of Milwaukee, WI, as well as their ten grandchildren: Lila and Eleanor Carey; Savannah, Addison, and Jackson Southwood; Everly, Hunter, and Phoenix Southwood; and Isaac and Audrey Southwood. He is also survived by sisters June Ann Scales of Riverside, CA, and Evelyn Grace of Pewaukee, WI. John entered the business world after campus ministry and eventually moved his family to Maryville, TN, in November 1991. He worked as V.P. of Sales for S.N.M.P. Research International until his retirement in September 2015. While working in business for his professional career, he continued his love of ministry through decades of church leadership, teaching adult bible studies, and leading small groups. He and his family are long time members of Monte Vista Baptist Church. While John demonstrated his faith and service in many official roles, he also quietly and privately served others through intentional gestures and acts of mentorship. A long-time runner and basketball player, John also loved a good game of golf with his regular golfing buddies, climbed Mt. LeConte 23 times, and took seriously his role as the Commissioner of his family’s baseball fantasy league for 26 years. Always up for a challenge, he took up cycling after he retired and joined a riding group, completing the Hoosier Hilly Hundred mile bike race with a dear friend in 2017. During his retirement years, he and Jane traveled to Europe and Alaska, but divided the majority of their time traveling to visit their 4 children’s families, always present for big and small life events. He loved to help out with home projects, tinkering in the garage or yard, constructing swing sets for his grandkids, and making a daily trip to get his wife Jane her Diet Coke and his cup of coffee. He lived a life of integrity, service, and faith. After his devastating diagnosis 9 months ago, his daily prayer was that his attitude and actions through this trial would glorify God. In light of the current COVID-19 public health crisis, a celebration of his life will be held at Monte Vista Baptist Church at a later date when family and friends can travel and attend. He will be buried in Lafayette, Indiana, where he met his wife and all his four children were born. In lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that contributions be made in John Southwood’s name to Purdue Christian Campus House building fund (1000 State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 or www.reframingthehouse.com), Monte Vista Baptist Church building fund (1735 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803), or the Glioblastoma Moon Shot research program at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John E. Southwood please visit our Sympathy Store.