November 12, 2020, 73, La Grange

John Peirce Walmsley, 73, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020. John was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania to the late James Edmond Walmsley, III. and Mary Moore Reed Walmsley. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, Reed Emmett Walmsley.

If you knew John, you loved him. With a laid back, easy-going personality, there wasn’t much that could anger him. His patience endured along with his sense of humor.

John was a dedicated member of La Grange United Methodist Church. No matter the need, John was always the first to volunteer to help. From plate sales to maintenance, he was a faithful and dedicated worker.

A Mr. Fix It by nature, John was a problem solver. There were no projects too big or small for him to take on. He was mechanically inclined and wanted to see everything fixed, repurposed, and reused. Duct Tape was likely the “fix it” tool he used most. Whether it was his old fishing shoes or a broken fixture, it wasn’t ready to be trashed until the tape couldn’t be used to repair it anymore.

A member of the La Grange Rotary Club for a number of years, John worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure that fundraisers and community projects went off without a hitch. From building fishing trucks to weekend trips to the coast, John was happiest when he and his friends had a pole in hand and a fish in the cooler.

John passed his passion for fishing on to his granddaughter, Taylor. The two had a special relationship and their interests were reciprocated. The way that worked was Taylor took on a love for fishing, and John took on a love for everything Taylor wanted to do. Kayaking, sledding, fox hunting, and riding the golf cart were just a few of the adventures that John, his children, and granddaughter explored together.

John’s family was his whole life. His son and daughter were the apples of his eye and his wife was the other half of his heart. John and Sue met in college on a blind date and were married in less than a year. The two shared over 50 years together. He was a wonderful husband to Sue, a loving father to Reed and Jennifer, and a one-of-a-kind “Pooh” to his granddaughter, lovingly referred to as “Toot”.

Funeral services to celebrate and remember John’s life will be announced at a later date.

John is survived by his best friend and partner in life, his wife, Sue; his daughter, Jennifer Walmsley; granddaughter, Taylor Reed Askenstedt; and his brother James “Jim” Walmsley and wife, Dottie.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory may be made to La Grange Rotary Club, P.O. Box 8, La Grange, NC 28551, or La Grange United Methodist Church, 213 S. Caswell Street, La Grange, NC 28551. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange, NC 28551