John Lewis “Jack” Overbey was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1932, the third of five children. His father, Ernest Overbey was a police officer and sheriff of Will County, and his mother, Rose (Romano) Overbey, was a homemaker.
From an early age, Jack had a passion for electronics. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. Following his graduation, he served four years in the U.S. Navy, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He then returned to the University of Illinois to earn a master’s degree in engineering.
In 1960, Jack moved to Southern California to work in the aerospace industry, including for a time at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. He met Mary Wells in 1961 in Malibu, where he shared a beach house with friends. Jack and Mary were married in 1962. They bought their first home in Rancho Palos Verdes, where they lived until 1969 when they moved with their two children to Mary’s hometown of Reigate, Surrey, England. Jack worked as an engineering consultant in London until 1975 when the family, including two more children, returned to California, settling in Palos Verdes Estates. Jack worked for Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo until his retirement. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s Jack was an independent computer consultant.
Jack’s hobbies included computers, photography, website design, and genealogy, and he loved movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He and Mary travelled extensively throughout the world to such destinations as China, Thailand, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and Europe.
Jack passed away peacefully on February 12, 2018, in Palos Verdes. He is survived by his wife, Mary Overbey as well as his four children, Susan Murray; Lewis Overbey; Victoria Overbey-Kieffer; and Timothy Overbey, and four grandchildren, Jack Murray; Kristina Murray; Alex Overbey; and Nick Overbey. He is also survived by his youngest brother Bill Overbey.
A memorial service will be held at Green Hills Memorial Park on Friday, March 30, at 10:00 AM, with a reception to follow in San Pedro. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jack’s name to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (
www.alzinfo.org
).