John Davis Alston, 83 died at home in Guntersville, AL, on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. A native and longtime resident of Gold Sand (Gupton), in Franklin County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Alexander Burt Alston (AB) and Margaret Hunter Alston.
A devoted son, father, and grandfather, he and Peggy Ann Perry Alston were married for 62 years.
John attended Gold Sand School, then earned a degree in mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace option from NC State University in 1960. He was employed at US Army Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, as an Aerospace Engineer for 35 1/2 years. His duties required extensive travel which he came to enjoy.
John was in the ROTC at NC State for two years and served with the National Guard H9 & HQ Battery 113th Field Artillery Battalion for three years.
A lifelong Methodist, he also enjoyed visiting services at the Baptist Retreat on Lake Guntersville in Alabama.
John participated in competitive shooting for years and developed many friendships through the sport. He and Peg tackled building a home with the help of one carpenter after getting the home dried in. As the family grew, so did the home, always with the labors of John and Peg.
An avid reader, he enjoyed keeping journals in which he would write paragraphs recalling his opinions, new information, etc of all the books he read. One of the hard limitations he faced following a stroke experienced during open heart surgery in 2015, was the extensive damage to his vision which no longer allowed him to read, this he handled with grace and little complaint.
John was a long time resident of Guntersville, Alabama where he served on committees for the city, working to maintain the charm and beauty of the small lakeside town.
During retirement, he loved participating in senior sports; volleyball, tennis, softball, and always, shooting with a buddy or two.
One of his treasured activities was hearing from and keeping up with his classmates from Gold Sand. Whenever in Louisburg, they would set the telephone tree in motion and enjoy being together.
John is survived by loving family who was by his side during his final hours: his wife - Peg; three children - Judith (Julie) Hunter Alston, Shannon Alston Grass (Richard), and Alex Wiley Alston (Julie); and twin grandsons - Evan Carter Alston and Owen Spencer Alston.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to a charity of your choice. Due to the influence of his late father-in-law, Wiley Davis Perry, he became an avid supporter of the Shriners Hospitals for Children: 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. He also supported the Wounded Warriors: Donor Care Center, PO Box 758541, Topeka, KS 66675-8541, St Jude Children's Hospital: PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, and Big Oak Ranch: PO Box 507, Springville, AL 35146.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for all the expressions of love, encouragement, and support they have received.
The family will receive friends at Strickland Funeral Home in Louisburg on Wednesday, February 17th, from 12:30 - 2:30 pm with the funeral service to follow.
Burial will at Oakwood Cemetery in Louisburg.
Arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg
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