John Edward Batten, III passed away peacefully the 11 ^th day of October 2019 at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center. Born May 26, 1930, in Gary, West Virginia, he was predeceased by his parents, Ellithorpe Mae Welch Batten and John E. Batten, Jr. of Welch, West Virginia, and his sister, Betty Joe Batten Rawls of Suffolk, Virginia.

Having a strong work ethic, John loved to reminisce about how he was a newspaper delivery boy for the Welch Daily News from ages 12 to 17 winding his way on a bicycle daily through the mountain roads of Welch, W.Va. He always enjoyed Scouting, and one of his fondest achievements was attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He was also the Valedictorian of his 1947 High School graduating class of Welch High School.  He thereafter enrolled in and graduated from Duke University, Durham, N.C. with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med in 1950, where he was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, the Duke Acting Guild, and the Duke Choir.

John served his country with courage and honor – at the onset of the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Air Force Aviation Cadet Training Program and was promoted to the rank of 1 ^st Lieutenant.  He retired as a triple-rated Regular Air Force Officer: Pilot, Navigator, and Radar Observer. Volunteering for extended duty beyond his assignment, John flew 83 combat missions with the 319 ^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (The Tomcats) in the first-generation jet aircraft F-94 Starfire over North Korea during the Korean War.  Upon his return from his combat tour, John served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactical Officer at The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, and later served at Wiesbaden AFB, Germany, along with numerous other assignments before retiring. He often remarked that he especially enjoyed flying the F-86 Sabre jet fighter and the RF-84F while a member of The Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.  As a result of his war service, John received the A.F. Air Medal, Korean Service Medal, Korean UN Service Medal, ROK Korean War Service Medal and numerous other aviation awards and decorations.

After his military career, John taught Adult Education and then managed a real estate firm until entering the University of South Carolina School of Law. He received a Doctor of Laws degree and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar Association.  He thereafter started and maintained his own law practice in Surfside Beach and served as the Surfside Beach Municipal Judge.

John was past Commander of American Legion Post 111, Conway, SC, and was a continuous member of Post 111 for 53 years; he served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 891 in Surfside Beach; and prior to entering law school, he was elected to, and served on, the Surfside Beach Town Council. He was a member of the USAF 319 ^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron Alumnae Association and thoroughly enjoyed attending his reunions and the camaraderie of his combat buddies.

John married Donna Sue Ayers, the sister of his college roommate, on June 10, 1952, in Mount Olive Baptist Church, Nichols, SC, and he has doted on her for the last 67 years. He is survived by his beloved wife, Donna Sue; his brother Welch Middleton Batten of Williamston, NC; two children; Susan Ayers Batten Lipscomb (Lenny) and John E. "Jeb" Batten, IV (Karen) both of Chapin: six grandchildren; Clifford Nelson Batten, Katherine Middleton Batten, Lillian Rose Batten, John Richard Lipscomb (Kelsey), Eric Batten Lipscomb (Adrienne) and Brian Lee Ayers Lipscomb (Grace): and five great-grandchildren. He considered his beloved niece, Donna Elizabeth Ayers Powell (Mark) to be another "daughter".

The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m., Monday, October 14, 2019 at Meares Funeral Home in Mullins. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 3:00 p.m., Monday in the chapel of the funeral home.  Burial with military honors will be held at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the Loris Rehab & Nursing Center staff, the Mercy Hospice staff, and longtime caregivers and friends, Jessie Brewer, Wanda Edinger, Tammy Hardee, and Wanda Amato for their kindness and compassion.  The family would also like to thank Pastors Mike and Steven Vipperman and John's many friends in Mount Olive and elsewhere, as well as, Sadie Shoe, a longtime family friend, for her loving care and friendship.

If you would like to remember John, the family suggests that memorials be made in his memory to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1950 Mt. Olive Church Road, Nichols, South Carolina 29581 or the American Legion Post 111, 3003 Highway 701 North, Conway, South Carolina 29526.

An online guestbook is available at www.mearesfh.com.