Nov. 24, 1948 –  Oct. 12, 2012

John R. Verboon was born in Hanford, Calif. on Nov. 24, 1948. He was the second child born to William and Doris Verboon, who had recently moved from Corcoran to Hanford with their firstborn son Billy to begin farming the Gold Top Ranch on 12th & Flint Ave. He was followed by the birth of their third child Carole. John passed away on Friday, Oct. 12 at home.

From an early age, John, aka Ricky to family and friends during his elementary days at Pioneer School, was interested in radio and television as a career. Following graduation from Hanford High School in 1966, he went to COS and majored in radio/TV. His was the proud voice that read the Daily Bulletin over the COS speaker system from ‘66-’68. In 1967, he began his broadcasting career at radio station KOAD in Lemoore.

In 1968, he enrolled at Fresno State College and continued his major in radio/TV, graduating in January of 1971. He moved to Los Angeles in February 1971 to attend REI Broadcasting School, just a couple of days before the earthquake that hit the area in Sylmar, very near where he lived. He completed his training at REI and returned to Hanford/Tulare to begin working at KCOK in the spring of 1971. He also worked part time at KGEN and was the person who pushed the button that put KJUG on the air. Some of his on-air personality names included Radio John, Jumpin’ John, Johnny Gunn and Johnny R.

In 1977, he moved back to L.A. to work at KUSC, a public radio station at USC, where he remained for almost 28 years as an engineer. He quickly made close friendships with his coworkers that lasted his lifetime. He appreciated their many calls, cards, and visits during his brave fight with cancer over the past 16 months.

After retiring from KUSC in 2005, he began working at Canterbury Records in Pasadena, indulging his love of music. This love culminated in his collection of 4,000 CDs and LP records, of which he was very proud.

He was raised in the First Presbyterian Church in Hanford and joined the Glendale Presbyterian Church where he was an active member and deacon for many years, and was a charitable donor to many church sponsored programs.

John was a “people person,” and spent much time maintaining lifelong family relationships and friendships. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings and was especially grateful that he was able to be part of a cousins’ reunion in Bakersfield this past August.

John was predeceased by his father William in 1999. He is survived by his mother Doris Butcher Verboon of Hanford, Calif.; his brother and sister-in-law Bill and Karen Verboon of Tetonia, Idaho; his sister and brother-in-law Carole and Chuck Delap of Visalia, Calif.; one great aunt Babe Verboon; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and one great, great nephew, and lots of dear cousins.

The family would like to thank Smile Senior Care for their special treatment of John and the care he was given, allowing him to remain in his home.

Services will be held for John on Saturday, Oct. 20. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and church service at 11 a.m. at Glendale Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Louise, Glendale. A second service will be held in Hanford at the First Presbyterian Church, 340 N. Irwin St. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. and church service at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Burial will be at the Hanford Cemetery with reception to follow in the church social hall.