John Burton Allsbury

John Burton Allsbury (81) passed away peacefully September 17, 2026, at Wake Med North in Raleigh, North Carolina.  He passed away surrounded by family after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s and Lewi Body diseases.

John was born on March 3, 1945, in Big Spring, Texas, to John Wesley and Edith Jeanette Allsbury.  His early years were spent in Iowa and later Wisconsin.  He enlisted in the US Army and was sent to VietNam.  Upon his return stateside, he attended the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh where he met the love of his life, Kris.  They married June 21, 1969, and lived in Wisconsin with their son and daughter until moving to North Carolina in 1990.

He especially loved trouble-shooting and carpentry and ran his own small construction company in both states.  During this time, he was also Construction Supervisor for Habitat for Humanity in Durham NC.  When they were small, children loved going to some of the job sites with him.

John was a good man who was caring and loving to anyone he could help. When he was a handyman for the Wake County Schools, he volunteered to teach the fourth grade science units about space and the solar system.  Because he was so excited about the topics, the kids decided that he was an astronaut, and he could never change that idea.  He drove long, extra hours every work day giving rides to colleagues who could not drive, in order to give them the dignity of being honorably employed.

John was very intelligent; he read six science magazines every month, took advanced science Great Courses, and qualified for Mensa.  Even with advanced dementia, he could carry on conversations about science.

He was a skilled carpenter who never believed in “good enough.”  He was an inventor and developed numerous solutions to problems.  When his father-in-law was dying from ALS, he developed a doorbell that could be rung by his father-in-law’s head to let the family know he was awake.

John Allsbury was a wonderful, loving husband, dad, Papa, and brother.  He is survived by his wife, Kris Allsbury; son, Scott William Allsbury (Sheila); daughter Lin Sorrentino (Sean); grandsons William Allsbury and Gregory Allsbury; his sisters Catherine Allsbury and Jeanette Bonell; three very special cousins Art, Bruce, and Karen Brock; and “grandsons of the heart,” Christian and Aaron Gainey.

The family expresses sincere appreciation to the wonderful nursing staff at Wake Med North, as well as the staff and musicians of Good Shepherd.

A celebration of Life service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7000 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh October 3, at 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.