He was born on August 4, 1945, in Canton, Ohio, son of John Lopes and Ila Stephens. John graduated from Timken High School in 1963. He Joined the Navy in 1963 and served on the USS Alamogordo and left the US Navy as a Ship fitters mate 3rd class (SFM3); and he served during the Vietnam Era. John worked his way through an apprenticeship and earned his journeyman card at Chrysler Motor Co. in Detroit. He married Sharon Rose Norman, of Zanesville OH, on February 1, 1969, they had two children, John and Tisha.

He moved back to Canton Ohio and worked at the Ford Motor Co. Forge Plant in 1976 until the plant closed in 1988. John then transferred to the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant in 1989 until 2013, John worked as a pipefitter retiring with 37 years of service with Ford Motor Co.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He touched the lives of so many people in his 80 years on this earth. He talked a lot about his life on 13th St. NE Canton OH. He grew up with six sisters, three brothers often talking about the chaos of living under one roof with a family of 12. When he was younger, he started shining shoes to make money. He also boxed as a teenager and was quite good. He lived a good life; he always preached to his family about staying connected and never giving up on each other. He was a devoted Catholic, if you ever tried to call him at 4pm on Saturdays you'd know he was at the church. Like many of us he had struggles in his life but overcame them through pure determination. John was an avid reader of autobiographies and history novels. At the age of 70 John enrolled in classes at the University of Louisville to learnSpanish in preparation for his journey to Cape Verde Africa, his father's homeland.

He taught his son Johnny how to be a man, garden, play baseball, and "some pipe fitting". He supported his daughter all her life, helping her with ballet lessons, soft ball, drafting and helping her through college. He also raised his grandson as a second son helping mold him into a man. There were no free handouts with grandpa, you always had to do some work for him. Whether it was cutting the grass or washing the car you always got paid. He also tried to improve his hook shot but never got any better. He lived life to the fullest, with his companion Vera Newton, traveling, cooking and enjoying every day together. The day before he passed, he wanted to go out driving around town with his granddaughter Oliva to buy a car. In the end he was surrounded by family and loved ones. John transitioned from this life on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the age of 80 years old with his son John, grandson Sebastiao and companion Vera by his side.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Rose Norman Lopes, and sisters Patty, Estella, Sonja, brothers Benny, and Eloy.

Survivors include his children, John, Sebastiao and Tisha Lopes, eight grandchildren Lana, Johnny, Chirstian, Oshai, Sebastiao, Gabe, Olivia, and Lucy; six great grandchildren Alena, Austin, Addison, Kylee, Trinity, and Johnny; and four siblings Willa Fay (Sissy) Curry, Estel Pittman, James (Trudy) and Dolorse Williams (Roger).

Pallbearers

John S. Lopes

Christian Lopes

Gabriel Lopes

Sebastiao Lopes

Rashu K. Jeffries

John Herpin

Todd Pittman

Jaylin Cardwell

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The family of John Sebastiao Lopes wishes to acknowledge with sincere appreciation the support, prayers, sympathy and many kindnesses expressed by our family, friends and neighbors during our beloved John's illness and transition.