John Thomas Bateson

John Thomas Bateson, 76, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2013. John was born March 15, 1937 in Clinton, Mass. He graduated High School at 17 to become an industrial electrician. Upon completing an employee exam, it was suggested he seek a degree in Electrical Engineering (EE). However, at the time, money for school was a problem. John joined the naval reserve as a Seabee so as to attending Tri-State. John's room and board was covered by working as a cook in his Lambda Fraternity house. Going Greek worked out better than expected; upon crashing a fellow fraternity's party he met JoAnn Teresa Post, his eventual bride in 1958. His EE career started in defense research. This allowed him to be aboard the first submarine to navigate the polar icecap. After leaving the sea, community service moved into John's life when he became a 4th degree Knight of Columbus in 1970. Service included the pitch. John refereed soccer from U6 through collegiate/semi-professional level. Professionally, John moved into sales in Automated Test Engineering where he authored a book on the subject in 1985. Sales eventually led to Marketing and a Masters on that subject. His retirement in 2001 brought John and JoAnn to Asheville where he joined the Knights at the Basilica of St. Lawrence. John's philosophy held that; most things should be considered hard nor easy. They just need to be done with care. John is survived by his wife JoAnn, children, Barbra, Bill and Joan, along with three grandsons and three granddaughters. A funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of St. Lawrence on Friday, June 21st at 2:00 pm followed by a reception in Laurentine Hall. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm with a rosary being said at 8:00 pm at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian.