John Walter Breen, 82, died Sunday, May 22, 2016. Born in Corning, NY, John served one tour in the Navy aboard the USS Iowa later becoming an Army Reservist for 20 years. He lived in Georgia where he graduated from Toccoa Falls Bible College and then served as pastor of two churches. John then moved to Florida where he worked for the Red Cross before settling in Hampton where he worked until retiring from the Newport News Shipyard. A member of First Calvary Baptist Church, Hampton he served as song leader and choir director.

John is survived by his wife, Shirley Jean Breen; children, Ken and Charline Breen of Beaufort, SC, Deborah and Michael Coburn of Newport News, John and Melissa Breen of Christiansburg; and Colleen and Tony Nelson of Grand Rapids, MI; a sister, Doris Evey; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 28, 2016 at First Calvary Baptist Church by Rev. Mark Boyd. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 10-11 am. A private interment will be held on Tuesday in Albert G. Horton State Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk.

The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Gideons International in John's name.

Arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.