|
|
John J. Timmons, Jr., Retail Deli Professional
Facts and Events
About John Timmons
John J. Timmons was born in Prussia, Adair County, Iowa, son of John Benjamin Timmons [1872-1934] and Lena M. Ahner [b. 1879], both Iowa natives. John was born into the grocery business in Iowa, as his father owned and operated a small grocery store near Des Moines, Iowa, which he worked in growing up and ran after his father passed away.
John married in 1940 in Iowa to his wife Edna Fern Parker; they had two children together: Cheryl and Gene. In 1942, John was drafted military service into the Army, and he enlisted on 23 January 1943 and served in the Engineer Corps until his honorable discharge in February 1946. Afterwards, John went right back to work in the grocery business, working for an independent grocer in Whittier, California, as a grocery clerk for three years. In 1949, he was hired as a grocery clerk for Southern California grocer Alpha Beta at its store #17 in Pasadena, and after being promoted to take over the deli department, John knew where he wanted to spend the next several years of his career.
In 1955, John joined several supermarket veterans that worked at Alpha Beta #17, including the dynamic Ted Wood, in pooling their savings and experience in starting a new supermarket, named Pantry Markets. Since John had been the Deli Manager, he started in the new chain as its Deli Buyer. Pantry Markets grew over the next eleven years into a 14-store chain, located in primarily upscale neighborhoods from Arcadia to Costa Mesa in Southern California.
In September 1966, John Timmons resigned his position as Deli Buyer for Pantry Markets to go into business for himself, and joined forces with his son Gene and a friend of the family, purchasing the Model Market on Beverley Boulevard in Whittier, California. At about the same time, his former employer, Pantry Markets had entered into negotiations with Texas supermarket chain Tom Thumb for a possible merger. (Note: Pantry Markets was acquired by Tom Thumb in 1966, but the stores continued under the Pantry Markets banner until the then 10-store chain was sold to Vons in 1986).
During his tenure at Pantry Markets, John was active in a local trade association, the Southern California Deli Council (now known as the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), an organization which still exists in 2014. Johh attended several of the organization's functions and was recognized for his participation and industry leadership with the Deli Council's Big Cheese Award in September 1966.
John Timmons passed away on 4 June 1997 in East Carondelet, Saint Clair County, Illinois. He was predeceased by his wife Fern in 1974 and survived by his son Gene and daughter Cheryl.
Image Gallery
References
- Find A Grave.
John J Timmons
Birth: Dec. 7, 1919
Death: Jun. 4, 1997
Inscription:
US ARMY TEC 5 WORLD WAR II
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81390101&ref=acom
- Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name: John J. Timmons
SSN: 481-16-1735
Last Residence: 62240 East Carondelet, Saint Clair, Illinois, USA
BORN: 7 Dec 1919
Died: 4 Jun 1997
State (Year) SSN issued: Iowa (Before 1951)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2019. (Online database: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006).
U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
Name: John J Timmons
Service Info.: TEC 5 US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Birth Date: 7 Dec 1919
Death Date: 4 Jun 1997
Service Start Date: 30 Jan 1943
Interment Date: 17 Jun 1997
Cemetery: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: 2900 Sheridan Road St. Louis, MO 63125
Buried At: Section 1b Site 771
- United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: John J Timmons
Age: 0 [0/12]
Birth Year: abt 1920
Birthplace: Iowa
Home in 1920: Prussia, Adair, Iowa
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: John B Timmons
Father's Birthplace: Iowa
Mother's name: Alena Timmons
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Household Members: Name Age
John B Timmons 47
Alena Timmons 39
Blanche A Timmons 19
Marie A Timmons 15
Stella M Timmons 14
Leona E Timmons 6
John J Timmons 0 [0/12]
Lula J Timmons 2
[2 1/12]
- Iowa, United States. Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925: [database on-line]. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007).
Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925
Name: John J Timmons
Birth Year: abt 1920
Birth Place: Iowa
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Census Date: 1 Jan 1925
Residence State: Iowa
Residence County: Adair
Relation to Head: Son
Mother: Lena Ahen
[Lence Timmons]
Mother's Birth Year: abt 1880
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Father: John B Tinnon
[John B Timmons]
Father's Birth Year: abt 1872
Father's Birthplace: Iowa
Household Members: Name Age
John B Timmons 53
Lence Timmons 45
Lula Timmons 7
John J Timmons 5
Estella Timmons 19
Leona Timmons 11
- United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: John J Timmons
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1920
Birthplace: Iowa
Race: White
Home in 1930: Prussia, Adair, Iowa
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: John B Timmons
Father's Birthplace: Iowa
Mother's name: Lena Timmons
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Household Members: Name Age
John B Timmons 57
Lena Timmons 50
Leona Timmons 15
Lula Z Timmons 12
John J Timmons 10
- United States. National Archives and Records Administration (ARC # 1263923). World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. (2002).
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: John J Timmons
Birth Year: 1919
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Iowa
State of Residence: California
County or City: Los Angeles
Enlistment Date: 23 Jan 1943
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Los Angeles
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: Grammar school
Civil Occupation: General farmers
Marital Status: Married
Height: 68
Weight: 141
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
|
|
