John Marion Eddins

John Marion Eddins of Atlanta, Georgia, and Champaign, Illinois, passed in his sleep early Monday morning, March 2, 2020. He was 89 years old.

Born in Bushnell, Florida, John attended Florida State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music education. In 1952, shortly after graduation, he entered active duty in the Navy, serving for over 3 years as an Engineering line officer on two ships. After discharge he became an educator, teaching choral music in Chipley, Florida, and elementary band in Plant City, Florida. He then began graduate studies, earning both his master’s degree in music history and his doctorate in music theory at Florida State, with additional studies in musicology at Cornell University. He served on the music faculties of Western Carolina College, Pfeiffer College and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, during which time he authored three textbooks. In the late 1970s his work turned toward computer-aided instruction, and he relocated to Champaign, Illinois in 1982 as a partner in a startup computer software business and also as a researcher in computerized testing at the University of Illinois. After coming across his father’s diaries and reading them, he realized they could give historians a rare look into early 20 th century daily life in central Florida, and so he transcribed them, annotated them, and then gifted them to the Florida state archives. In his late 50s, he reconnected with his college sweetheart, Norma, who at the time lived in Tampa, Florida, and in 1992 he relocated to Tampa and he and Norma were married. A wise and cordial gentleman, he was welcomed into Norma’s family, and did not hesitate to lend them help in times of need. In their 26 years of marriage, Norma and John were able to travel and enjoy many days together, both in Florida and later in Atlanta. They shared a love of the performing arts, attending many theater productions together, singing together in their church choir, and square dancing together with friends. During his life John also enjoyed sailing, mountain climbing and model shipbuilding.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Eleanor May Eddins, his parents William Terrell Eddins and Sallie Brown Eddins, his brother W. T. “Bill” Eddins, Jr. and his sister Isabel Eddins. He is survived by his niece Nancy Eddins Unum (Michael), his nephew Byron Eddins (Suzi), his stepchildren Eric J. Salls (Colleen), Dean E. Salls (Deborah) and Lee Ann Salls Hantula (Douglas), and their children Eric Salls II, Jeremy Salls and Dominic Hantula.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 14 th, 2020 at Wesley Woods Towers, 1825 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia, at 2:00 PM. Interment with Navy honors will be held Friday, March 13 th at 9:30am at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia. Arrangements are being handled by A.S. Turner & Sons of Decatur, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his memory to The Parkinson’s Foundation.