In Memoriam: John Edward

John Edward Felix

John Edward (“Jack”) Felix, a long-time resident of Canyon Lake, passed away peacefully on Oct. 15, 2018, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 87 years old. Jack was born in Waterloo, Iowa at the dawn of the Great Depression. He was introduced to flying as a boy with a ride in a relative’s airplane. That ride began a life-long love affair with airplanes and they became both his vocation and his avocation.

Jack graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1953. After graduation, he earned his naval officer’s commission and served during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Randolph in the Mediterranean.

After his Navy discharge, Jack joined Douglas Aircraft Company (which later became McDonald Douglas) as an engineer and moved to San Pedro, California. Jack continued to pursue his many hobbies in Southern California, including flying small planes and sailing boats. He retired from McDonald Douglas in 1987 after 30 years and moved to Canyon Lake.

Jack and his wife Marilyn have been active members of the Canyon Lake community, Jack having served as Commodore of the Canyon Lake Yacht Club. In retirement, he also pursued flying and airplanes as a hobby, spending many days volunteering at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino.

Jack was known as a kind and quiet man with a surprising, wry sense of humor. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 48 years, Marilyn, two sisters, two daughters and four granddaughters.

It has been a long goodbye because of Jack’s disease and he is greatly missed.