John Leftwich Light

John Leftwich Light, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, died Thursday, February 23, 2017. He was the husband of the late Patricia Wilson Light.

Born March 12, 1928, Mr. Light was the son of the late Robert Cornelius Light, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, and Ottie Leftwich Light.

Mr. Light is survived by his children: John Douglas Light and his wife Linda of Harrisonburg, Lisbeth Light Moore and her husband Blaine of Tampa, FL, and Bruce Fuller Light and his wife Laura of  Evington, former daughter-in-law Lisa Burcher Shipp of Bedford,  seven grandchildren: Marissa Wayne Moore, Joshua Blaine Moore, William Randall Light, II, Madeline Gibson Light, John Breckenridge Light, Samuel Carlon Light, and Caroline Fuller Light, one great-grandson Jackson Parker Olson, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, the Honorable William Randall Light, Sr.

Mr. Light was born in Lynchburg, VA. where his family has ancestry and property dating back to the 1600’s. Graduating from Dreher High School in Columbia, S.C., he had an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. He decided to matriculate to the University of South Carolina graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Light was a member of numerous organizations at Carolina including the Naval ROTC program. On graduation day, he participated in the University’s commencement exercises at noon, was commissioned into the U.S. Navy at 4:00 PM and married Patricia Wilson at 7:00 PM. After a very brief honeymoon, he was sent to San Diego and began service to his country in the Korean War. This continued a long tradition of military service in his family back to the American Revolution.

Mr. Light served in the Korean War on LSTs (supporting amphibious operations), troop transports and river boat patrols. He was also stationed in Japan and served as naval perimeter support for the United States’ first detonation of thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb, on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific.

Receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Mr. Light began working for Caterpillar, Inc., however, Babcock and Wilcox’s Navy Nuclear Division announced their plans to open a facility in Lynchburg. He quickly applied and was among the first engineers hired for the new facility. Mr. Light took numerous post graduate courses and managed quality control for reactor core assemblies used by many of our nation’s ships and submarines. He also worked on the Reagan administration “Star Wars” project and a nuclear accelerator.

Mr. Light retired to his beloved family farm, however, stayed active in farming and served in many leadership positions at Fort Hill United Methodist Church, the Ruritan Club, Campbell County Planning Commission and the Virginia Cattleman’s Association. His military service was not over after the Korean War as he held officer positions in the Naval Reserve and the Virginia Defense Force.

Mr. Light cherished his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchild. He will be remembered with love and respect by his family and friends.

A celebration of Mr. Light’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2017 at Fort Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ron Litten and Rev. Janet Hawkins officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Fort Hill United Methodist Church, 106 Oakridge Blvd, Lynchburg, VA 24502 or to the Evington Ruritan Club Route 24, Evington, VA 24550.

The family would like to thank the nurses, aides, therapists and staff at The Summit Health and Rehabilitation Center for their professionalism and incredibly compassionate

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.