"Because of Jesus!" Major John Harvey Bledsoe, 70, of Panama City Beach, was "Promoted to Glory" on September 27, 2016. He was born Friday, Oct 19 ^th , 1945 in Knoxville, TN to John Robert Bledsoe and Mabel Harvey Bledsoe, of Powell, TN.  John gave his heart to Jesus Christ at the age of 6.

He married Patricia Ann Delaney Aug. 22 ^nd , 1964. They entered The Salvation Army School for Officer Training and were commissioned and ordained on June, 3 ^rd 1967.

He was preceded in death by his son, Garrick Shaun Bledsoe and a brother, Robert Earl Bledsoe and his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Major Patricia Bledsoe; three children, Reverend Jonathan P. Bledsoe (Lisa Gould Bledsoe), DeLand, FL; Captain Andrea Bledsoe Hoover (Capt. Scott Hoover), Venice, FL; Captain Lorraina Bledsoe Crawford (Capt. Joseph Crawford), Owensboro, KY; eight grandchildren, Jordan Bledsoe Lyle (Josh Lyle), Bethany Bledsoe, Aaron Hoover, Jeremiah  Crawford, Hannah Bledsoe, Delaney Crawford, Savannah Hoover, Eden Crawford, great granddaughter, Lilly Lyle and a sister, Ruthanna Vincent (Dan).

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army Church, Highway 77, Lynn Haven.  The family will receive friends at the Wilson Funeral Home on Friday from 5-7 p.m.  Graveside services will be held on Monday at 2 p.m. EDT in the Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia.

The family requests donations to The Salvation Army of Owensboro, Kentucky in lieu of flowers. The Salvation Army, Owensboro Corps, P.O. Box 943, Owensboro, KY 42302