More detail on this person: CW4 John Waitman Price was born in Charleston, West Virginia on October 4th 1948. He passed on March 4, 2024. His father was James Meredith Price and mother Mary Barickman Price. John graduated from South Charleston High School in 1967. In his youth he enjoyed his model trains and loved seeing steam locomotives in person or on TV. He was a great swimmer, gymnast, lifeguard and trumpet player in the band. He loved working with numbers and was excellent at math. He worked at a plant in Charleston cleaning out military vehicles. In fact since he was small enough to climb inside, he had the job of cleaning out a fuel cell in a tank and almost did not make it back out due to the fumes. In 1968 he decided to join the Army, following in his father Jim's footsteps. Then he was off to basic training and on to flight school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He went to serve his Country in Vietnam and to fly Hueys in 1970 and 71. After returning home he continued his military service in the Army Reserve. He also joined various local organizations such as the Fairfax American Legion Post 177, Fairfax VFW 8469, a founding member of Centreville Moose lodge 2168 and the Frostburg Elks 0470. He started Advertising Associates which included the Fairfax Mirror, a local newspaper in Fairfax City. He really enjoyed working in advertising and sales, he later worked with the Record Newspaper in Rockville MD. In 1975 he met Sandy Wilson through his legion buddy, Les Butler, who had served in the Battle of the Bulge. Les was married to Sandy's sister Vicky. On March 10, 1977 John and Sandy were married in Upper Marlboro Court house in MD. Later that year on November 7 Sandy gave birth to James Victor Price at Fairfax Hospital. While still in the Reserve flying choppers, after he left the newspaper business he moved on to try on many different hats as he loved to say. He was a car salesman at Koons Chrysler Plymouth in Tyson Corner for many years. Garrett County Maryland Volunteer Fire Fighter, bartender at the American Legion Post 177 and a part time real-estate agent. Including owning and maintaining rental properties here in Fairfax City, also in Finzel and Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. He eventually would also serve with the VA National Guard Reserve still flying Hueys and loving every minute in the air and sometimes loving even more getting back on the ground safe. After 31 years of military service he retired from the National Guard Reserve in 1999 as a Cheif Warrant Officer 4 Instructor Pilot. He also worked as a driver for JL Tree Service and LabCorp. A Home Paramount pest control salesman and a census worker. He was known as the "The Toy Man" for many years, servicing more than 40 plush animal machines from Northern Va up to Western Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A lot of those stops were American Legions, VFWs, and Moose lodges where he helped get the machines installed. Even working with Artel telecommunication company pulling various communication cables in local Bell Atlantic and Verizon server buildings with his son Jim. He continued on with another division of Advertising Associates, supplying a variety of promotional products for local businesses. Eventually selling the property at Deep Creek Lake to buy a house down in St. Augustine, Florida so that his Dad James M Price could live there as a tenant. Throughout his life he was a very proud and active member of the American Legion Post 177, moving thru all officer positions except finance officer. He was a dedicated Post 177 Commander in 1981-82 then again 1993-6 and coordinating the color guard activities for decades as Sgt @ Arms. He really took great pride in representing The American Legion in the Honor Guard for Parades, Memorial Services, Flag Retirement Ceremonies, POW/MIA Ceremonies, Honor Flights, Four Chaplins Services, various dedications, Grand Openings, Military Reunions, NARFE luncheons, presenting the Colors for The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem at Retirement Homes and Fairfax City events on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. It was always his priority to ensure that our Veterans and our Nations Flag received the utmost respect they so deserve. He was also very proud of his service as Past 17th District Commander and 17th District Sgt @ Arms. He was a member of Post 177 for 51 years and also a proud Sons of the American Legion Squadron 177 member for 18 years. joining under his father Jim's service. Whenever he had a chance, he was meeting new Veterans. Thanking them for their Service and inviting them to join their local American Legion or Moose Lodge. John loved his family including our four legged furry ones throughout his life, he loved our country and he loved our American Legion Family. He enjoyed his canned Budweiser, shooting pool, playing cards, darts, horseshoes, camping, canoeing, boating, water and snow skiing. He also enjoyed watching movies and tv shows from the past such as Columbo, Andy Griffith Show, Dragnet, Mission Impossible. Also Air Disasters, Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, all Harrison Ford movies and old war movies, especially Midway, Run Silent Run Deep, Bridge on the River Kwai and The Green Berets, which were all his favorites. On March 4 2024 John passed peacefully at 7:32 am at his home with wife Sandy and son James present. He is survived by his wife Sandy, son James and his wife Arlene Price. Also sister Martha and her husband Kenny Conley. There will be an American Legion Memorial Service and Celebration of Life held for CW4 John W. Price upstairs at Post 177 in Fairfax City, Virginia on Sunday April 21 2024 at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, donations to Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association at http:vhpa.org would be greatly appreciated. We will also be having a Legion Memorial Service at the same time for Johns Dad, James M. Price, who passed in 2011. He was also a proud U.S. Army Veteran who served in Japan during WWII and an American Legion Post 177 Member. A heartfelt Final Tribute and Farewell for two generations of Prices that Proudly Served Our Country in the U.S. Army.
This information was last updated 04/10/2024
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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