Although John Jara (no middle name) was not killed during his 25 years of service in both the US Navy and US Army during WWII, Korea and Vietnam, he is being remembered today. His bronze burial plaque was donated to the Botetourt County Historical Society in 2024 by his stepdaughter, Diana Dooley Simmons and Dennis Craft. According to Jana’s obituary in The Roanoke Times (August 16, 2000), he died suddenly on August 14, 2000, at age 72. Rader’s Chapel in Daleville held his memorial service. He lived on Mountain Pass Road in Troutville with his wife, Evelyn Dooley Jara, who survived him.
He was buried in Sherwood Memorial Park Crematorium so this burial marker was not used. The S 2 stands for being in the Navy’s food service. The S SGT stands for the Army ranking of a Staff Sergeant who typically leads a squad of soldiers and is responsible for their daily training, development and mission readiness. Advancement to the S SG rank is highly competitive and requires recommendation from a commander.
Rena Worthen and the staff at the Botetourt Museum of History & Culture, where it is located, helped to research this unusual Botetourt artifact.
~ Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture
