The family of John Duff has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor their loved one at his final service. We are honored to accept this invitation.
John Spencer Duff passed away Oct. 5, 2018, at home after battling Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy. John was born Jan. 11, 1955, at Drummond Hospital and raised in Ridgecrest.
He attended Burroughs High School where he met and fell in love with his sweetheart Cyndi Bristow. He played varsity football in high school and unofficially broke the shot-put record while on the varsity track and field team. John graduated in 1973, and he and Cyndi were wed in 1974.
John joined the Army in 1976 and was stationed at Fort Ord. He received the Good Conduct Medal and Army Commendation Medal and was honorably discharged in 1979 at the rank of SP4.
When he came back to Ridgecrest after the military, he worked for Chuck Cordell Sr. Construction. John studied for and passed his Electrical Contractors license test, while working full time. He started Duff Electric in 1985. Most residents now in Ridgecrest would most likely live or work or know someone who lives or works at one of the residences or commercial businesses Duff Electric wired or repaired. John also donated a lot of his services throughout the community of Ridgecrest.
John was a sportsman who loved to dirt bike ride (and broke a bone or two). John was a gearhead who was passionate about muscle cars (especially Chevy tri-fives: 1955-1957), he fished, hunted, went boating on Lake Isabella, went on UTV trips in his Polaris, and had the loudest Harley-Davidson in Ridgecrest at one point. He also loved to follow NASCAR races with Dale Earnhardt Sr being his favorite driver and then Dale Jr.
After his first wife, Cyndi, passed away, John met Nina Sunseri in 2011 and they wed in 2013. They went on John’s dream vacation this past summer of driving Route 66 from Chicago to L.A.
He was married to Cynthia Bristow in 1974 until her death in 2010. He is preceded in death by daughter Heather Christine Duff who died at 2 months of age in 1974. He is survived by wife Nina, two sons Jason Duff and Clint Duff, one brother Howard Duff, and two grandchildren.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to his final resting place, approx 90 miles. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time table for Thursday, 25 OCT 18:0900: Stage at Holland & Lyon's Mortuary, 216 S Norma St, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
https://goo.gl/maps/sQLjU0915: Mission Brief
0925: Flag Line to transfer Hero to coach
0930: Depart to Bakersfield National Cemetery (BNC), 30338 E. Bear Mountain Blvd., Arvin, CA 93203
https://goo.gl/maps/QXCpNHmpum921130: Arrive BNC
1230: Service time and Flag Line with Military Honors
R/C Greg "Drifty" Vincent
SOCAL PGR Ride CaptainSliick333@msn.com
1-760-371-5467
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
