John Woodard Sears, 74, died after a long illness in Pensacola, FL on Friday, October 30, 2015. He was born February 19, 1941 in Hibbing, MN to Hayden F. and Helene Sears. He graduated in 1959 from Aurora HS in MN. John played football, wrestled and ran track. He attended Virginia Jr. College and the Univ. of MN. In January 1963, he joined the US Navy and later that year graduated USN Flight School. John was a Navy pilot and proudly served his country for thirty years. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he flew the P3 Orion and was awarded many medals and commendations, including three Air Medals. He retired in 1993 with the rank of Captain. Upon retiring from the Navy, he continued to pilot planes for Trans America, Northwest and other airlines. A true outdoors-man, John enjoyed hunting and fishing. This lifelong love of the outdoors started early in his life by following his big brother, Denny around the woods of MN. He was an avid golfer. In 1961, John followed in his father's footsteps and became a member of the Eshquaguma Country Club. He had many good golfing buddies with whom he golfed daily and who helped look after him and his cabin in his later years. He split his year between living on Pensacola Beach, FL and in his cabin in Gilbert, MN. He was also a member of the Elks Club on Pensacola Beach, FL. Among many other things he will be remembered by those that knew him whenever they smell pipe tobacco and also by John's love of doing crosswords and discussing politics. His niece will remember him bringing her many two dollar bills and making pipe cleaner animals when she was a small child. He was fun loving with a good sense of humor. He loved a good joke and a cold beer. Throughout his entire life, John took great pride in staying fit and "lean and mean" as he was known for saying. There is now a great hole in the lives of all that knew him. John was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved sister, Pamela. He is survived by his older brother, Lt. Col. Hayden "Denny" F. Sears, Jr., USAF, Ret.; his niece, Correne Sears and adored grand-niece, Maria "Mia" Weaver and many good friends. Graveside services will be held, with full military honors, at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL on Friday, November 6, 2015 at 9:30am.