John Leslie Symons 1943 - 2003 Graveside funeral services will be held for lifetime Bishop resident John Leslie Symons, 60, on July 17, 2003, at the East Line Street Cemetery in Bishop at 11 a.m. Officers of the Bishop Elks Lodge No. 1603 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8988 will officiate. A reception will follow the Thursday services at the Bihsop Elks Lodge. Visitation was held on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, from 7-8:30 p.m. Born in Bishop on Feb. 26, 1943, Mr. Symons died on July 14, 2003 in bishop. A member of the Bishop Elks and the VFW, John w as known though out the Owens Valley for his many business endeavors, community service spanning several decades and his family history in the area. The Symons family has been in the Bishop area for more than 100 years, and has always been active in the community and its happenings. This is a tradition that John carried out during his life. He knew hundreds of local residents on a first-name basis, and always had time to stop and visit with whomever he came across in his "daily rounds." He had the knowledge and the generosity to help w ith whatever project may be happening with any group or person that needed it. John attended Benton and Bishop schools while working the Symons ranch in Hammil Valley. He graduated from Bishop Union High School in 1960 and went on to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he obtained a degree in Ag Business Management. His college career was interrupted by service in the United States Army from 1961-64, where he served in Korea and Hawaii in Military Intelligence and Security. John was awarded Soldier of the Year honors for 1963-64. He returned to the Bishop area in 1968, where he began a life of self-employment and service to the community in which he grew up. John ran a hay cubing business for two years in Bishop and Yermo before selling the company to return to Bishop permanently, where he worked for Union Carbide until 1971, when he purchased the Texaco Station on Main Street. He operated that until 1973, when tire sales surpassed gasoline sales. At that time, John purchased what is now known as Symons Tire, and remained in business there until 1981. In 1981, John left the tire business to devote his time to the dev elopment of a small hydroelectric project with his father, William Symons Jr. This project is known as Hi Head Hydro, and continues to operate in the Chalfant Valley area. While operating the hydro project, John also helped his son Judd Symons establish Symons Emergency Specialitites, Inc., in 1989. In addition to John's numerous business pursuits, he was always active in the community. As a teenager, John became very involved in the Tri-County Fair as a Junior Fair Board Member and Assistant Livestock Superintendent, as well as a 4-h and FFA exhibitor. His service in this capacity continued in the 80s, when he again serced as the Livestock Superintendent, and as President and member of the Junior Livestock Auction Committee. John may be best known for his service to the community through the Bishop Elks Lodge No. 1603. John joined the lodge in 1972 and served as Exalted Ruler from 1977-78. He also served as trustee for nine years, and chairman for three years. He had been a lifetime member since 1978. He was also an honorary founder and Permanent Benefactor of the Elks National Foundation. His service to the community through Elks included Youth Activities Chairman, providing Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas presents to needy families in Inyo and Mono counties, assisting with the major project that provides a full time therapist for handicapped children in the area, and countless other service endeavors. John most recently served as State Vice-President for the Inland District of the California-Hawaii Elks Association from 2001-2002. He was then installed as the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler representing the Grand Lodge in the Inland District for 2002-2003. Aside from Elks duties, John was an Inyo county planning commissioner, a grand juror and was most recently serving as a rural fire commissioner for the Bishop Fire Protection District. In addition to work and community service, John enjoyed time with his family, camping, traveling with their trailer and being a part of youth activities with his children and grandchildren. He also had a certain passion for old John Deere tractors and was known to many as "John Deere John." John's character and sense of humor will be greatly missed by many in the community. John is survived by wife, Carol Lee Symons of Bishop; son, Judd Symons of Bishop; daughter, Sally Symons of Bishop; grandchildren, Zachary and Carly Lehr of Bishop; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Carol Thorne of Bishop, and Robert and Lucilla Thorne of Yerington, Nev.; and numerous extended family members and many lifelong friends throughout the area. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elks National Foundation. The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California Thursday, July 17, 2003 - Page A3 Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, October 24, 2004