John Planchon

TSgt John Lee Planchon, USAF (Ret.), 61, passed away peacefully in Warner Robins, Georgia on Monday, May 8, 2023. Born in Lebanon, Missouri on June 14, 1961, John was the second of four children raised by a loving mom and dad, Lena Irene Snotherly and Claud Planchon.

In 1967, Claud and Lena moved their family to the Panama Canal Zone. John attended Margarita Elementary School in Margarita, Canal Zone and Cristobal Jr./Sr. High School in Coco Solo, Canal Zone. After graduating high school in 1978, John attended Canal Zone Jr. College in La Boca, Canal Zone. In 1980, John left the Canal Zone to study journalism at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. Deciding college life wasn’t for him, John left college and worked for an oil seismograph company in Texas; and a delivery company in Columbus, Georgia before enlisting in the U. S. Air Force in January 1984.

John served honorably in the USAF, retiring as a Technical Sergeant in February 2004. During his service John was stationed around the world at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia; Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas; Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; his last duty station was Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia from 1998-2004. John also had multiple TDYs and deployments overseas.

After retiring from the USAF in February 2014, John was hired in April 2014 to work for the Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters on Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia where he worked until his untimely death.

John embraced the Zonian culture and lifestyle and truly loved life in the Canal Zone. John participated in the annual reunions, and many empanada parties with family and friends.

John was predeceased by his parents, Lena and Claud Planchon; his sister, Tammi Suzanne Planchon Nidiffer; and his brother, Harold William (Bud) Planchon.

John is survived by his sister, Toni Lynn Planchon Mott of Nevada, Missouri; niece, Rachel Mott of Missouri; nephew, Shane Logan of Arkansas; nieces, Samantha Nidiffer Hale of Alabama, Stephanie Nidiffer, and Olivia Planchon of Arkansas; and his cherished Kathryn Marie Parish and her daughter, River of Augusta, Georgia. John will be remembered and deeply missed by his Air Force family, his Warner Robins family, his Zonian family, and many, many more.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.