Forty-year Malibu resident, John “Jack” Hanton, died at home on June 14.
Hanton was born March 24, 1921 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and grew up in Minneapolis. He fulfilled a childhood dream to fly when he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942; the same year he married his high school sweetheart, Catherine (“Kay”) Schatzlein.
During World War II, Hanton earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and 11 Air Medals for his heroism and victories in aerial combat. His military service career took him and family to worldwide duty in Europe, the Far East and numerous stateside bases. Hanton completed his distinguished Air Force career of 26 years as one of the select Air Force advisors at the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica. In 1968 he began a second career in civil aviation.
Hanton is survived by Kay Hanton, his wife of 61 years; his children, Tom Hanton, Johanna Edmonds, Susan Whitney and Steve Hanton; and six grandchildren, TJ. Hanton, Christine and Scott Whitney, Emile, Jon and Paul Mocey-Hanton; two great grandchildren, Madyson and Jack Hanton; and brother, Carl Olson.
A Memorial Mass will take place June 21 at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, 3625 Winter Canyon Rd., Malibu. Donations may be made in his memory to Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church.