John Wetmore

John Whitcomb Wetmore, Building Bridges for 91 Years

Pastor John Wetmore was an extraordinary bridge builder always striving to help connect people to places, to others and to God throughout his 91 years on this earth, from July 22, 1917 until his death on August 28th, 2008. He lived his life with kindness, a good sense of humor, with a twinkle in his eye, finding the goodness in others and in the simple things in life. He grew up in a large, loving family in the North Carolina countryside, the son of Thomas Hall and Mae Sue Wetmore. As a young man, he worked in the Newport News Shipyard and then served in the Army in Japan as Chaplin after WWII. He loved being a Veteran. He took pride in being an iron worker and a shipfitter as he built ships and bridges, and always valued the skills and abilities of blue collar workers. He was a lifelong learner, achieving two Master's Degrees, in Religion and Education, at his beloved Baylor University in Waco, Texas, enjoying teaching and holding administration positions at the college level including Orlando Jr College until its closing in the 1970's and others over the past 40 years. He loved golfing into his 80's, and yearly participated in the Calloway Gardens Preachers Golf Tournament. He had a great tenor voice and loved singing especially old hymns and gospel tunes. His greatest vocational love was serving as a minister since 1950, especially helping small churches get started in rural areas. Many churches in the Orlando area were helped to grow through John's leadership. A few of the churches and congregation that he ministered to include Lake Ola Baptist Church, Zellwood, Lockhart Baptist, First Baptist Church of Kissimmee, University Baptist, Plymouth Baptist, North Park, Riverside, Christmas, and Oak Level Baptist Church in Ocoee. He also loved politics, and as a Southern Baptist Minister he was a strong Democrat and supporter of Hillary Clinton. He constantly watched TV this year to stay connected to the excitement of this year's historic election.
The greatest love of his life, his wife Miriam of over 60, years passed away last year. They had a partnership full of such caring and love expressed daily for each other like none I have ever seen. They were able to live in their own home until their 90th year. John and Miriam had 3 children. John Wetmore Jr , of Orlando, shared rounds of golf with his Dad over the many years, made him proud as he became a Marine, and then helped his parents maintain their independence by helping them at home in their later years, and visited daily when they moved to nursing care facilities. Anne Marie Wetmore of Olympia, WA who loved swimming, golfing and and singing with her Dad as a child, and appreciated his support of her traveling and love of the Pacific Northwest as an adult. She continually visited him often bringing her children and grandchildren to stay connected to their Grandparents. Carol (Hugh) Palmer of Highland Springs Virginia was his oldest daughter who was such a lovely person, brought him years of joy and wonderful children and grandchildren who remain after she passed away. John and Miriam were always so proud of their 23 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who carry on their legacy of love: Carl (Teri) Holly, Aiden, and Grant Palmer; Kim (Charles) and Ana Luger, Shannon (Robbie) Andy, Marshall and Carson Brooks; Valancy (Tony) Isabella and Julian Blackwell, Cody Wetmore Spann, Jeremy Wetmore Spann who all loved their grandparents. John Wetmore also leaves behind his sister, Betty Lou (Carlton) Todd, who he and everyone else in the family loves dearly, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends, such as Dr Fortinberry of Dover Shores Baptist Church. Thanks so much to the Vitas Hospice Care Staff, especially Terry Hirtz and Team 199, and also the staff at the Winter Park Towers, especially the 2nd floor memory unit nurses and the assistants/aides who took such good care of our Dad this past year. You all are the best in quality caring service to others! Dad said, "A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people your heart is at home." As sad as our heart is today to say good bye, we have to smile in his memory as he always did, to show ourselves and others our heart is at home, just as Dad is at home with the Lord. Funeral services are at 3:00 PM Sunday the 31st at Newcomer Funeral Home on Goldenrod in Orlando. Visitation with the family will start after 2:00pm.