John William Harper, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, in Lewisville, Texas, surrounded by the love of his family.

John was born on June 7, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, to James Y. Harper, who emigrated from Scotland, and Florence D. Carter, who emigrated from England. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Harper; and his sister-in-law, Barbara Harper.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Beverly Harper; his sister, Sheila Mayry and her husband, Willard; his son, Jim Harper and wife Jennifer; his grandchildren, Evan and Emma Harper; his daughter, Peggy Carson and husband Mike; and his grandchildren, Karly Gürkan and husband Tevfik, and Kristi Carson. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose love and guidance enriched the lives of all who knew him.

One of the greatest blessings of John's life was his marriage to Beverly. Their relationship began through the friendship of their parents, a connection that led to a lifelong love story. John and Beverly were married on August 23, 1958, and shared nearly 68 years of marriage together. Their life was built on love, faith, mutual respect, and unwavering devotion to family.

A proud veteran of the United States Army, John served during the Korean War era. His service included assignments at Fort Knox and in Japan, where he drove a Sherman tank. He carried the values of duty, perseverance, and service with him throughout his life.

John enjoyed a distinguished career as a Mechanical Engineer. He spent 40 years with Fruehauf Trailer Corporation and later worked for Saturn Corporation. Throughout his career, he earned multiple engineering patents, reflecting his creativity, ingenuity, and dedication to his profession.

For most of his life, John called Detroit, Michigan, home. In 2018, he and Beverly relocated to the Dallas, Texas area to be closer to their son Jim and his family. The move allowed him to spend even more treasured time with his children and grandchildren, who brought him immense joy.

John found happiness in life's simple pleasures. He loved gardening, woodworking, and creating things with his hands. Most of all, he cherished time spent with family and friends. He was known for his loving heart, thoughtful nature, kindness, respect for others, and willingness to give his time whenever someone needed help. His quiet strength, generosity, and unwavering devotion to his family will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

John was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Coppell, Texas, where he found fellowship and spiritual encouragement.

His legacy lives on through the family he loved so deeply and the countless lives he touched through his kindness, wisdom, and example. He will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.

Funeral Service
Saturday, July 18, 2026
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
First United Methodist Church of Coppell
420 S Heartz Rd
Coppell, TX 75019

Donations in memory of John Harper may be made to First United Methodist Church of Coppell: https://fumccoppell.org/give/