John Smallridge

John T. "Poke" Smallridge, 60, of Chillicothe, died June 15, 2018, at his home, following an extended illness.   He was born June 28, 1957 in Chillicothe to the late Thomas L. and Bessie M. Kuhn Smallridge, Sr.  On February 14, 1998 he married Melody L. Degen, who survives.  Also surviving are his children, Joshua Johnson, Blake (Kimberly) Smallridge, Joseph Johnson, and Billie (P.J.) Hughes, all of Chillicothe; a brother, Thomas L. Smallridge, Jr., of Chillicothe; a sister, Sharon K. (Rick) Branham, of Chillicothe; grandchildren, Erika Malone, Harleigh Johnson, Sydney Johnson, Gavin Kern, Cloey Hughes, Austin Johnson, Abbi Malone-Smallridge, and Isaiah Damron-Johnson; his mother-in-law, Karen Degen; father-in-law, Buford Bradley; several brothers and sisters-in-law; a host of special friends, including Christie Bixler, who he called his Sissy; and his fur babies, Snowy, Fluffy, Carmen and Yazhi.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Peggy Sue Smallridge.   John was a 1976 graduate of Chillicothe High School and the Pickaway-Ross JVS.  He was an electrician and over the road truck driver, until strokes took most of his sight in 2010.  He enjoyed fishing, sitting by a campfire, and watching the Food Channel.  He was a founding officer of Rolling Thunder Chapter 3, and many would know him as Sparky.  He was passionate about spreading the POW message and increasing awareness.  John worked with his wife and a close friend on the design that was selected for the POW memorial in Veterans Park, along Yoctangee Parkway. The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm Thursday at the Haller Funeral Home & Crematory.  At John's request, following cremation, graveside services in Greenlawn Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of
John Talmadge Smallridge , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store .