John Elden Vinson, 82, of rural Hazleton, passed away Monday, September 18, 2017 at Amber Manor Care Center in Petersburg.

He was born April 12, 1935 in Pike County to the late Thomas Arthur and Sarah Ann (Tooley) Vinson.

John graduated from Purdue University in 1957 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and then worked for Bendix Industries in Hamilton, Ohio. He then returned to the Hazleton area in 1959 and became involved in farming with Vinson & Phillips Farms. He was a member of Hazleton United Methodist Church.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen (Phillips) Vinson, to whom he was married on August 8, 1953 at the former Salem Methodist Church; two sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff L. and Tracy Renee (Higdon) Vinson of rural Hazleton and Phillip K. and Jane Cecilia (Goedde) Vinson of Fairfield, OH; grandchildren, Gretchen Lynn Chenault (Jeff), Brittney Marie Fryrear (Brad), Jared Lee Vinson (Brianna), Heather Colvin, Sara Michelle, Gregory Alan, Eric Michael and Scott Alexander Vinson; great grandchildren, Brenton and Brayden Fryrear and Avery and Finnick Vinson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brothers, Hester Felton, Arthur, Burl Raymond and Thomas Vinson.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. CDT Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with Pastor Sam Polito officiating. Burial will follow at Davidson Cemetery near Giro. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. CDT Friday at Colvin Funeral Home.