John “Jack” Bowers Vellines, 83, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on Aug. 4, 2026.
Born on July 28, 1943, in Charleston, he was the son of the late Wesley Elmore Vellines, Jr. of Hinton and Edna Kathryn Bowers Vellines of Franklin.
Mr. Vellines grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where he attended the University of Richmond majoring in history, a subject he dearly loved. At the university, he served as entertainment chair for his fraternity, Theta Chi, a role that suited him perfectly.
From 1966 to 1970, he served in the U.S. Navy, training in sonar, and as a crew member, he flew many helicopter missions to locate submarines and mines. He served his country with honor and distinction and deeply loved America and the freedoms he served to protect.
In 1976, he moved to Roswell, Georgia, where he raised his two children. In the early 1990s, he returned to the Richmond, Virginia, area where he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Mary. Together they built a devoted and loving life. Their mutual love of travel took them on cruises and flights to all corners of the world.
As a successful businessman he founded and later sold two Richmond, Virginia, businesses, Trident National and Health Savings Administrators. His career was marked by integrity, fairness, and loyalty to his customers and employees. All of his children and stepchildren worked with him in various roles, and he took pride in giving them early experiences and successful starts.
His greatest passion was boating. His final boat, a beautifully cared for motor yacht, was called Lovin’ Life, a name that characterized his style of living. It was the setting for adventurous trips along the East Coast exploring and savoring the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay. Many of those happy days were unselfishly shared with the people he loved most, creating warm and vivid memories for everyone aboard.
He will always be remembered for his extreme generosity, his gift for creating “Big Fun,” and his devotion to his family and friends. Laughter, smiles, and stories worth repeating many times (and they were) were hallmarks of his time aboard “Lovin’ Life.”
His loving wife of 32 years, Mary Pendsulo Vellines, survives.
Also surviving are children, John Rogers Vellines (Beth) of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Karen Vellines Buelter (Scott) of Asheville, North Carolina; stepchildren, Tracey Goodsell (Patrick), Marc Lee (Cat) and David Lee; seven grandchildren, Ava Vellines, Sebastian and Annabel Buelter, Brooke and Lauren Lee, and Chloe and Sam Goodsell; sister-in-law, Nancy Vellines; niece, Beverly Caldwell; sister, Joan Ashley (Roger); nephew, John Charles Ashley (Amy); grandnieces, Erika, Samantha and Olivia Ashley; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Vellines.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Wesley “Bo” Vellines III; first wife, Rosalind “Ros” Rogers Vellines; local grandparents, Clint and Byrdie Virginia Bodkin Bowers; aunts, Luna Harold (Daten), Etta Margie Swadley (Edwin), and Virgie Lee Simmons Propst; and uncles, Zellie (Jenny Dahmer) Bodkin, and Joe Bodkin (Nellie Painter).
A memorial service was held Thursday at Bliley’s-Central Funeral Home in Richmond, Virginia. A reception followed the service.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org/.
