John Piloian passed away peacefully at home in Longwood, surrounded by his family on February 17, 2018, his 87th birthday.
John was a lifelong resident of Seminole County; being born at home in Wagner (now Winter Springs), Florida on February 17, 1931. The son of Armenian immigrants Bedros and Bayzar Piloian, John attended school in Oviedo, graduating from Oviedo High School in 1948 where he played basketball and baseball. He joined the Navy in 1951 and service 4 years aboard the destroyer USS Hubbard on active duty in Korea as a radio operator.
After receiving an honorable discharge John returned to Oviedo and joined his father and brother Bill on the family farm. Piloian Farms supplied cabbage, green onions, green beans, and other fresh vegetables to Publix, Winn Dixie, and other grocers up and down the eastern seaboard. A fixture in Oviedo from the 1950's, the farms were sold and John retired in 1983. After retirement he took up golf and loved the outdoors whether golfing, tending to a home garden, or working in the yard.
John is survived by his wife of 60 years Carlene (McKinnon); his sister Lucy Layer; his sons Marc and wife Debra, Scott and wife Vallie, Lee and girlfriend Shannon; grandchildren Courtney, and Mia and son-in-law Michael; great-grandchildren Morgan and Michael; nieces Sandy and Laura, and nephews William and Jimmy. He was preceded in death by his brother William "Bill" Piloian, sister Sarah Piloian and niece Sarah Girard.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 22 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals, & Receptions, 335 East State Rd. 434, Longwood, FL. Visitation starts at 3:00 pm with the funeral service to follow at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the VITAS Community Connection (http://vitascommunityconnection.org/community-connection/donate).