John Thomas Poss

John Thomas Poss, 78, of Cabot passed away Sunday, January 9, 2021. He was born May 3, 1943, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., to the late Thomas Gaston "Buster" Poss and Hazel Randolph Meek Poss. John married Frances Eileen Lasiter on April 17, 1971 at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church. He served his country in the United States Navy and in the Air National Guard for nearly 24 years. He was also a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier from 1985 until 2000. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his siblings, Beverly Ann Poss Price and Asa Richard Poss. John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eileen Poss; sons, John Eric Poss and Jason Thomas Poss; a grandson, Gene; granddaughter, Molly; brother, Paul Grafton; half-sisters, Esther Webb and Ramona Hamilton (Eddie); sister-in-law, Nelda Poss and a host of nieces and nephews. John's service as a U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class (Radioman) during the 1960s took him to Midway Island, Saudi Arabia, Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam embarked on aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS-12), and lastly to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, assigned to USS Hyades (AF-28) before her decommissioning in late 1968. During his Naval service, he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, and Navy Good Conduct Medal. John's service in the Arkansas Air National Guard spanned from 1981 to 1998. He was the Group Historian of the 189th Air National Guard; and rose to the rank of Tech Sergeant (E-6) before his retirement. During his AANG service, he was awarded the Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), the Arkansas Service Ribbon (2 awards), and the Air Force Training Ribbon (among others). John was a lifelong WWII, Korea, and Vietnam-era aviation buff, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Axis and Allied air assets was not something you wanted to get him started talking about. In the early-eighties, he earned a private pilot's license. John also completed a Bachelor's Degree at UCA in Conway. In the mid-1980s, his sons got him interested in collecting baseball cards, a pastime he would keep for the rest of his life (for better or worse). He also assembled an impressive stamp collection and built countless scale models of everything from 17th century Ships-of-the-Line to SR-71 Blackbirds – some of which were not damaged or destroyed by his sons. Also in the mid-1980s, John served as Cub Master of Cub Scout Pack 201 in Cabot, and helped shape the characters of many boys who, now themselves in their forties, still remember John fondly. John earned another degree, an Associate in Applied Science (Educational and Instructional Technology) from the Community College of the Air Force in 1992. He and Eileen were members and supporters of the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church for most of the last 50 years. A devoted brother, husband, father, and grandfather, John will be sorely missed. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church (4100 Hwy. 89 South, Cabot) with Pastor Jeff Warrick officiating. Committal service with military honors will follow at Hicks Cemetery under the direction of Moore's Cabot Funeral Home (501)843-5816. Please sign the online guestbook at www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com.