John Spencer Duff

John Spencer Duff passed into Gods glory October 5, 2018, at home after battling Parkinson's Disease and Multiple System Atrophy.

John was born January 11, 1955, at Drummond Hospital and raised in Ridgecrest. He attended Burroughs High School where he met and fell in love with his sweetheart Cyndi Bristow. John graduated in 1973, and he and Cyndi were wed in 1974. They had three children: Heather (who died at 2 months of age), Jason, and Clint.

John, who was broad-chested and 6'3" (in other words, he was a big guy) was a sportsman who loved to dirt bike ride (and broke a bone or two), fish, camp, and hunt. He played varsity football in high school and unofficially broke the shot-put record while on the varsity track and field team.

Providing for his family was his priority; and he had some interesting jobs such as working at the former sawmill in Little Lake, collecting money for Household Finance, and on the fuel farm on base at Naval Weapons Center (China Lake).

John joined the Army in 1976 and was stationed at Fort Ord. He received the Good Conduct Medal and Army Commendation Medal and was honorably discharged in 1979. When he came back to Ridgecrest, he worked for Chuck Cordell Sr construction. John studied for and passed his Electrical Contractors license test, while working full time. He started Duff Electric in 1985. Most residents now in Ridgecrest would most likely live or work or know someone who lives or works at one of the residences or commercial businesses Duff Electric wired or repaired. John also donated a lot of his services throughout the community of Ridgecrest.

After his first wife, Cyndi, passed away, John met Nina Sunseri in 2011 and they wed in 2013. They went on John's dream vacation this past summer of driving Route 66 from Chicago to L.A.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Lois Duff; his first wife of 36 years, Cynthia Duff; his daughter, Heather Christine Duff; sister Darlene Fortune; and sister Dayle Shriver. He is survived by his wife, Nina; his son Jason Duff; his son Clint Duff (wife Erin); stepsons Steven Wojktowski (wife Kristina), Philip Wojtkowski, and John Wojtkowski; step-daughter Ania Wojtkowski (husband Walter Scimone); grandson Bryce Duff; granddaughter Lilly Duff; grandchildren Harley Evans and Jonathan Brannon-Wright; step-granddaughters Elsie and Amelia Wojtkowski; brother Howard Duff (wife Cathy); and several nieces and nephews.

A military service will be on 10/25/18 at Bakersfield National Cemetery at 12:30 pm, with the procession leaving Holland & Lyons Mortuary at 10 am and accompanied by Patriot Guard Riders. A celebration of life will be 10/25/18 at 4 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church at 201 Graaf Avenue in Ridgecrest with a reception immediately following at Immanuel Baptist Ministry Center at 1201 North China Lake Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital Development Foundation for the Hospice House would be greatly appreciated.