John Joseph Wymond

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of John Joseph Wymond on July 1, 2025, in Mount Vernon, Washington. He was 74 years old. John was born on April 9, 1951 in the Bronx borough of New York City. He was the first of 5 children born to John Henry Wymond Jr. and Florence Josephine (McKeon) Wymond. John spent the first 9 years of his life in New York, where he had fond memories of spending weekends with his paternal grandparents, and fun-filled summers spent at Rockaway Beach with two of his younger sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. The family moved to California in the fall of 1960, where John’s parents bought a house on a cul-de-sac in the City of San Fernando. A brother and another sister joined the family in California. Newton Street was a great place to grow up, with lots of kids, pets, bicycles, home-made skateboards, neighborhood games of softball, touch football (esp. the annual Turkey Bowl), 4th of July block parties, and trips to Zuma Beach! John loved the ocean and spent lots of time over the years surfing, scuba diving and getting sunburned! His favorite TV show from the time he was a kid was the Lloyd Bridges classic “Sea Hunt”. John was always a serious student. He graduated from Sylmar High School, class of 1969. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, proudly serving his country during the Vietnam War Era for 4 years at Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, the Navy’s largest Master Jet Base and a key player in the Pacific Fleet. After serving his country, he began his college career and earned his Associate of Arts degree at Los Angeles Valley College where he met the love of his life, Darlene Fine. They married on June 26, 1976. John, with Darlene’s unwavering support, went on to earn his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Biology at Cal State University, Northridge. John began his working career with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture as an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service specialist at JFK International Airport in New York in 1981, necessitating a move from California to New York. His son Bill was born shortly after he took the position, so John found himself rushing back to be there for the birth of his son. The family, including Darlene’s mother Helen, moved to Huntington, NY shortly thereafter. John later transferred to an assignment in Florence, SC. They lived in the lovely town of Marion, SC, and had a beach house in Ocean Isle, NC. They spent fun family times at the beach house they named “Sea Hunt”. In 1987, John accepted a position at the border crossing at Blaine, Washington, where he finished out his career with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Homeland Security. John and Darlene found the perfect house with a view of Mt. Baker and Lummi Island in Ferndale, Washington, where they welcomed their daughter, Ellen, and spent many happy years raising their family. Grandma Helen lived nearby and was a great help to the family during those years. John always loved sports, whether as a participant or a spectator. He played on an adult softball league team in Bellingham for many years. His team was sponsored by the Waterfront Tavern, which advertises itself as a dive bar hangout of serial killers. Seriously! Ted Bundy was one of several notorious customers! Retirement found John and Darlene living full time on Legoe Bay on beautiful Lummi Island. There John enjoyed the water, wildlife and views of the San Juan Islands. It is a truly peaceful place. It became lively with the visits from grandkids John and Elizabeth and fun holiday gatherings. John and Darlene, with their 2 dogs and 2 cats, moved to the Clear Lake area near Mount Vernon in 2022 to be nearer to their daughter and the grandkids. John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Darlene Wymond, son William (Bill) Wymond and his wife Heidi Kaempfer, daughter Ellen Wymond and her husband T.J. Morris, grandchildren John and Elizabeth Morris: sisters Patricia Wymond and husband Steve Roy of Blaine, Nancy Morgan and husband David of Lone Tree, CO, Mary Cebreros and husband Oscar; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. John was preceded in death by his father, mother, and younger brother Kevin. Graveside services will be held at Greenacres Memorial Park on August 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

John Joseph Wymond

April 9, 1951 - July 1, 2025