John and Joan Morrow: Mr Morrow was a loving father and stalwart member of the community.
Beloved father and husband John Morrow died on Thursday, March 3, at the age of 91 of heart disease.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan Helen Morrow (formerly Benson), his four children, Leonie Whitla, Grant Morrow, Suzanna Morrow and Bronwyn Morrow, his four grandchildren Finnian, Liam, Tristan and Kellon, and his four great-grandchildren, Zephyr, Iggy, Isla and Darcy.
Son of Rachel Mary Morrow and John Leslie Morrow, he was born October 13, 1930, in Horsham where he grew up.
He studied electrical engineering between 1947 and 1952, specialising in refrigeration. He would spend the rest of his life working in this field.
He lived in Melbourne for a time before meeting Joan at a dance at Malvern Town Hall. John moved to Shepparton a few years later in 1968 with his wife and kids.
He started JE Morrow Refrigeration on Rowe St in Shepparton in 1972, which is now John Morrow Refrigeration, servicing commercial air conditioning and refrigeration in the city for decades.
He was a family man, and a provider — a man with a great sense of commitment to his family and his community.
John was an active member of the community and wore many hats. He was in Rotary for 40 years, holding the position of president in 1984 and 1985 was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his contribution to the community.
He was also prominent in the start of the Neighbourhood Watch program and played a pivotal role in the Scout movement in Shepparton, becoming the district commissioner for the area in the mid-1970s.
John and Joan: He had a passion for flying, and loved to go on overseas holidays with his wife.
John and Joan sponsored exchange students as well as children with the World Vision organisation.
John wasn’t overly religious, but regularly attended the Uniting Church in Shepparton with his wife, where they volunteered with community work.
To his family he was always a devoted husband and father, old fashioned in his discipline and fiercely protective of those he loved.
But he was equally compassionate, and had a great sense of humour that only a few people outside his family would be aware of.
“One of my scariest moments was when we were dining in the Sgt’s Mess he said ‘it is very quiet in here, do you think they would mind if I started singing?’ I looked at him horrified and said ‘yes they would, because you can’t sing’,” his son, Grant, said.
“We had a running joke about him ... table dancing to entertain his new family in the nursing home.”
He loved holidays, long weekends away, caravanning, model trains, trumpet music and country music.
“Marty Robbins in particular, of which I had to suffer in silence on road trips and holidays,” his daughter Bronwyn said.
Flying was a life-long passion, whether it be learning to fly at Shepparton Aerodrome or overseas holidays with his wife. He flew model aeroplanes and took his kids to many air shows.
He was a proud father when Grant joined the Air Force.
14°C