John Harold Alley, 26, passed away on Saturday, 24 May 2008, in Pensacola, Florida. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was stationed at NAS Whiting Field, Florida where he was in pilot training.
John was born in the Azores, Portugal to LtCol W. David and Eva J. (Poljanec) Alley on 28 March 1982, at Lajes Air Field. He lived in various places throughout the world including Columbus, OH; Wright Patterson AFB, OH; The Air Force Academy, CO; Misawa Air Base, Japan; Colorado Springs, CO; Bountiful, UT; and Milton, FL. He graduated from Air Academy High School in 2000 with High Honors and the Air Force Academy in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Upon graduation he was commissioned a 2Lt on 26 May 2006.
John was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His love for the Savior and the Gospel were inspirational to all who knew him. A highlight of his life was serving as a missionary for the Church in the Venezuela-Barcelona Mission from 2002 to 2004.
He was accomplished athletically and was a NCAA Division IA wrestler at the Air Force Academy. Besides wrestling, John loved skiing, soccer, rugby, scuba diving, climbing, biking, and was just developing a passion for golf. Fascinated by wildlife, John found solace in nature and never missed an opportunity to go camping, hiking, or mountain climbing. He was also an Eagle Scout.
John met the love of his life, Emily Wilbur, in Bountiful, Utah. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the LDS Bountiful, Utah Temple on 14 July 2007. They were excited for the arrival of their first child, John Harold Alley, Jr., who is expected to be born in October. John loved and was loved by his many nieces and nephews.
John is survived by his wife; unborn child; parents; older sister Julie Jeanne (Alley) Allen, her husband Steven D. Allen, and their children Trenton, Kali, and Blake; younger brother Lewis “Luke” Michael Alley; younger sister Anna Marie Alley; grandmother Nadra Jeanne (Dayton) Alley; grandfather John Joseph Poljanec; father and mother-in-law Curt and Sharon (Pratt) Wilbur, and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Harold Pugmire Alley and step-grandmother Malvene Poljanec.
A memorial service will be held in the theater at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL at 10am on Saturday, 31 May 2008, where he will be posthumously commissioned a First Lieutenant and receive his pilot wings. A funeral will be held in Bountiful, UT at the Bountiful Heights Stake Center (33 S. Moss Hill Drive) at 11 am on Friday, 6 June 2008. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 at Russon Brothers Mortuary (295 North Main, Bountiful). Interment will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery, with full military honors.
A trust fund has been established for Emily and their child. Contributions can be made by sending checks marked “Alley Family Trust Fund” to Air Warrior Courage Foundation, PO Box 1553 Front Royal, VA 22630.
