John Robert (Jr.) Sandidge

Loving husband to the late Virginia Louise for 69 years passed away peacefully on April 17, 2019.  He leaves to mourn his passing two children, Kanita Durice and John Robert III (Martha); one brother, Albert Lincoln Sandidge; three granddaughters; two great- grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.  Funeral services on Thursday, April 25th 11:00 am at St. John A.M.E. Church, 2261 East 40th Street.   Wake will begin at 10:00 am.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to St. John A.M.E. Church.

                       Obituary

John Robert Sandidge, Jr., son of the late John Robert Sandidge, Sr., and the late Fredricka Louise Amanda Bernard Sandidge, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Good Friday, March 30, 1923, and entered into eternal rest on April 17, 2019.

John attended Cleveland Public Schools and graduated from East Technical High School when it was an all boys’ school. While there, he was a machinist and cabinet maker but his favorite subjects were English, math and history. He matriculated at Case Western Reserve University majoring in accounting. John participated in the European Theater during World War II and after receiving an honorable discharge returned to Cleveland and married his teenage sweetheart, Virginia Louise Caldwell, on June 29, 1946. They were married at St. John A.M.E. Church and to this union were born two children, a daughter, Kanita Durice and a son, John Robert III.  John and Virginia received a Recognition Certificate from the White House for 50-plus years of marriage. When Virginia made her transition, they had been married for 69 years.

John joined St. John A.M.E. Church at a very early age and was an active and dedicated member until he became his wife’s primary caregiver when her health failed. He was a Morning Sunday School teacher for teenage boys, was Assistant Superintendent for Morning Sunday School, worked in Christian Endeavor and the Interfaith Youth Council, played on the St. John baseball team, served as a Trustee and was a member of the Lay Organization and served as its Financial Secretary.

John worked at Endeco Sportswear before and immediately after the Service. Later he became a clerk/carrier for the United States Postal Service and retired after 36 years of dedicated service. Recently, John received a National Association of Letter Carriers (N.A.L.C.) Lifetime Membership Gold Card and N.A.L.C. 50 Year Pin commemorating his fifty years of loyal membership in the Letter Carrier Union.

John actively supported his son, nephews, and other youngsters in Cub Scouting and Soap Box Derby races. Also, he was a member and Recording Secretary of the Midwest Region Anthropos of Phi Delta Kappa and an avid golfer.

After his wife’s homegoing in December 2015, John’s granddaughters, Jennifer, Kendra and Michele, packed his duffel bags to move him to Kanita’s house in Randolph, New Jersey (NJ), so he could spend more time with his NJ family. He missed his wife terribly but acclimated to his new environment and developed a comfortable and active routine. His regular activities included: exercising and recording workout videos with Kendra; sitting out on the deck at his daughter’s house watching the planes overhead; keeping up with current events; FaceTiming with the grands and great-grands and communications via e-mail. For a hot minute, he even played a few rounds of the on-line game “Words with friends”.

John liked touring whether it was visiting his childhood homes on Keyes or family homes on South Boulevard and Fairfax, museums and cultural gardens in Cleveland or traversing Routes 1&9 in NJ. He would tell stories to his children and grandchildren during the tour.

John took numerous trips during his short tenure in NJ: his son spearheaded a visit to Staten Island (SI) and his first ride on the SI Ferry which he loved; attended Kendra’s commencement in Philadelphia where she received her MBA from Wharton and Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School; attended Michele’s commencement in Ithaca, NY, where she received her MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and he had an opportunity to reflect on Kanita’s commencement at Cornell where he and his wife attended in 1970; numerous trips back to Cleveland to visit family; a few trips to Exton, PA, to visit Jennifer and her husband Jamil especially after the birth on September 1, 2017, of his great-grands, twins - Dean Jonathan and Samantha Louise.

John’s last event, held in the hospital, was the celebration of his 96th birthday with a golf-themed cake and edible golf balls baked by Michele. He was surrounded by family and with 2.5-foot balloons advertising his age, he got greetings and well wishes from all who passed his room.

John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia Louise and his sisters, Roberta Louise Dimmy and Henrietta Bernard Sandidge Pennyman.

John leaves to cherish his memory a daughter, Kanita Durice; a son, John Robert III; a daughter-in-law Martha Geri Sandidge; three granddaughters, Jennifer Alison Sandidge-Paden, Kendra Leane Sandidge and Michele Francine Sandidge; a grandson-in-law Jamil Emanuel Paden; great-grandson Dean Jonathan Paden; great-granddaughter Samantha Louise Paden; nieces, Cherilyn Ruth Lewis and Robyne Lynniece Curry; cousin Sylvia McShan; “adopted son” Gerard Lamont Blackstone; a brother, Albert Lincoln Sandidge; a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Robert (Jr.) Sandidge, please visit our floral store.