John Lee Irvin passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2025, on the Day of the Divine Mercy. Born August 8, 1936, he was the firstborn child to Herschel and Victoria Irvin of Sullivan Indiana.
John was initiated into the life of farming by his devoted father, a man who was strong as an ox and John marveled at his dad’s ability to bend a train spike with one hand. John also learned much of his guiding ethics and the ways of a farmer from his maternal grandfather. A small but mighty youngster, John spent much of his youth helping his grandfather at his farm in New Lebanon, IN, and often remarked with thrilling memory, his enjoyment of the delicious huge breakfasts and giant sugar cookies his grandmother prepared before venturing off to the fields to perform the daily farming chores. John dreamed of a life as a farmer and aside from his corporate career, imbued unto himself the persona of farm boy throughout his 88 years.
After high school, John attended Rose Polytechnic Institute (now Rose Hulman Institute of Technology) to study mechanical engineering. Located on the outskirts of Terre Haute, John hitchhiked back and forth from Rose and his parent’s Sullivan farm to help his father with chores.
John took many odd jobs to support his financial needs, washing dishes, and other tasks, in between classes and study time. He also found time to enjoy a few social gatherings with his best friend and fellow engineer, Gary Leavitt. At one fraternity gathering in particular, John was introduced (setup on a blind date) to Marsha Rose Malooley.
John and Marsha began dating regularly and her Syrian parents (who would traditionally require a daughter to marry into the Syrian Culture), diverted from the norm, as they fell in love with John, who was of English and Scottish ancestry. With proud acceptance of this intelligent and humble young engineering student into their family, Marsha’s parents readily approved of John’s request for their only daughter’s hand in marriage. John completed his Bachelor of Science degree at Rose Poly and graduated in the spring of 1958.
He enlisted in the Army Reserves – Corp of Engineers at the early onset of the Berlin Crisis.
John and Marsha were married on July 19, 1959, and moved to a small farm outside of Crawfordsville, IN. John worked for Chrysler in Detroit before taking a job at R.R. Donnelly.
John Michael was born on July 22, 1960, followed by Mary Elizabeth on September 25, 1961.
As fate would have it, with John tiring of the cold Indiana winters, during a fishing trip to Florida with his brother Gil in early 1966, he learned of, interviewed for and was offered a mechanical engineering position at the St. Petersburg Times newspaper. With Marsha already pregnant with Daniel Joseph (born April 30, 1966), John had to delay his start date at the Times until June. That is when he and 5 year old Mary made the move. Marsha stayed behind at her mother’s home in Terre Haute until August before making the move with Dan and Johnny.
John began his career at the St. Petersburg Times and the Evening Independent as a staff engineer. Over the next 26 years, his dedication and expertise led him to ascend to the position of Director of Operations and earned a place on the Board of Directors. His significant contributions to the field of newspaper print were recognized in 1988 when he was inducted into the Printing Impressions/Rochester Institute of Technology Printing Industry Hall of Fame. In the 2009 article featuring his illustrious forward-thinking career, the author said this: “Irvin can look back on a string of successes that have been instrumental in industry advancement. They include testing of offset anilox color, establishing news ink color standards, offset ink waste reclamation and using AGV trains for moving newspaper rolls.”
John and Marsha were enjoying their life in the sunshine state and as the result of their new happy life, Michael Andrew was born on December 31, 1969. Marsha’s Florida life, and social engagements in a philanthropic women’s club were blooming. Young Johnnie and Mary were attending elementary school, and generally Marsha acclimated to the warm climate and her new life in Florida. Within a few years, Marsha’s mother migrated south to purchase a home just 2 miles away. Everything was working out for Johns dreams being fulfilled in family, career, extra- curricular fun and NO SNOW.
John’s true passion was being on the water and every weekend he invited any of the children to join him out on the boat (that he crafted out of fiberglass in his garage) to spend Saturdays out on Tampa Bay, catching fish for the freezer, shrimping at night, gathering oysters and eventually becoming certified as a scuba diver with his sons.
John’s participated on the Board of the St. Petersburg Salvation Army, and served on the Board for Center Academy where his youngest son Michael attended for high school education. John was also very involved in speaking engagements and consulting work for the Poynter Institute as well as newspaper operations around the world. John was also devoted to supporting the needs of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church and served on the Board for years as well as a Eucharistic minister and volunteering to do the Sunday readings.
John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marsha Rose Irvin, an infant brother, Stanley Irvin, sister, Nancy Kay Irvin and his parents Victoria and Herschel Irvin and his sister-in-law, Claudette Irvin and his brother-in-law Andrew Bobby.
John is survived by his children, John Michael (Peggy) Irvin of Arvada, CO, Mary Elizabeth (Robert) Mangold of Grangeville Idaho, Daniel Joseph (Tamara) Irvin of Villa Rica Georgia and Michael Andrew (Jennifer) Irvin. He is also survived by his siblings Herschel (Cathy) Irvin of PA, Susie Bobby of AZ, Mary Irvin of IN, Gilbert Irvin of IL, and Tom (Pam) Irvin of IN.
John has four grandchildren: Megan Irvin, Jake Irvin, Joshua Irvin and Justin Irvin. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews
John, Mary, Dan and Mike would like to thank God for the many blessings that have guided us Irvin children during our father’s last week’s. We are so blessed and thankful for our neighbors and dear friends Diane and Jesse Gerholdt who were there to assist John with errands and help. We are deeply grateful for the tenderness and abundant loving care that Diane bestowed on John in his final two weeks.
We also want to recognize Johns wonderful team at Suncoast Hospice. Many thanks to Amy, Baron, Susan, Cheryl and Thomas for all of your exceptional support to our family.
A memorial service and Celebration of Life is scheduled for August 2, 2025 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.