Mr. John Henry “Big John” Lookabill, 86, of Shelby, NC, passed away on January 10, 2013 at his home.  Born to the late Frank and Dorothy Lookabill of Boone, North Carolina, on January 25, 1926, he was raised in Watauga County.  He served in the U. S. Army during WWII in France and Germany.  He was employed by General Motors for ten years; by Daniel Construction as a pipefitter for eighteen years; and retired from Duke Power as a power house mechanic. He was a member of Zionville Baptist Church and a member of York Masonic Lodge 385 for fifty years.

He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as all of his family. He enjoyed restoring old cars.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, June Lookabill; daughters, Connie Hicks & husband Jerry of Rutherfordton, Mary Sue Lemmons & husband Butch, and Shelia Cooper, all of Shelby; two sons, Johnny Lookabill & wife Myla of Shelby and James Lookabill & Janet Martin of Cherryville; grandchildren, Alecia Urmston, Jamey Cabaniss, Jeremy Lookabill, Heather Lemmons, Anthony Hicks, Kimberly Pendleton; great grandchildren, Hunter Cabaniss, Sydney Urmston, Carson & Jesse Lookabill.

Visitation:  The family will receive friends at Cleveland Funeral Services, Saturday,

                        2:00 – 3:00 pm.

Funeral:     Cleveland Funeral Services Chapel, Saturday 3:00 pm

Officiating:  Rev. Barry Miles

Burial:        Cleveland Memorial Park

Memorials:  Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150