John R Biddle

On June 16, 2026, John Biddle passed away at the age of 83 following a brief illness. Born near Henagar in DeKalb County, Alabama, he was the son of the late Leonard and Clarice Igou Biddle. His family later moved to Fort Payne, Alabama, where John attended school and graduated in 1961. During his high school years, he played on the basketball team and spent his weekends building race cars with friends, balancing his hobbies with a job delivering for a local laundry and dry cleaners. After graduation, he attended both Snead State and Athens State colleges, majoring in history and English. It was during his time at Snead that he met Elizabeth "Liz" Parker. The couple later married and built their life together in Liz’s hometown of Guntersville, raising two daughters, Tama and Mari. He earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama in 1974. John began his teaching career in Sylvania in DeKalb County and at Grassy in Marshall County. When Guntersville formed its own independent school system in 1969, John was proudly their very first hire. For nearly four decades, he served the city of Guntersville as a devoted educator, mentor, and leader at Carlisle Park Middle School (now Guntersville Middle). Though he briefly taught English and coached basketball, he ultimately dedicated himself to his true passion: history. John served as assistant principal for numerous years before choosing to return to the history classroom he loved so much. A tireless worker, he spent his summers creating student class schedules completely by hand and served as the history department chair until his retirement in 2005. In the early years, the middle school was looking for a way to reward 8 th graders for their hard work and allow them to practice positive social skills. John along with the late Doris Hughes created the legendary 8 th grade dance held each spring at the school to celebrate the class’s achievement. When Ms. Hughes retired, Charlotte Godwin became co-chair. When they both retired, the dance was passed to John’s daughter Tama Nunnelley who carried on the tradition, with his yearly help, until she retired from the system in 2021. Today, parents carry on this yearly rite of passage started so many years ago. Throughout his career, John shaped generations of students through his leadership, guidance, and commitment to educational excellence. His profound impact extended so far that he eventually taught the grandchildren—and even a few great-grandchildren—of his earliest students. Blessed with a remarkable memory, he remembered their names and always had a personal story to share about each one. He took immense joy in watching his former students grow up and succeed within the community. John lived simply, but he left an enduring legacy that will benefit the community for years to come. John and Liz fully immersed themselves in the world of high school marching bands when their daughters joined the Crimson Guard Band. Their dedication outlasted their daughters' school years. Whenever the band traveled, John was behind the wheel of the "Big Truck" with Liz by his side, reliably transporting band instruments to ballgames, parades, and competitions across the South. An enthusiast of many hobbies, John had a passion for anything related to cars, holding a special fondness for vintage models. In his earlier years, he competed at the Green Valley and Baileyton drag strips, bringing home several trophies. Later in life, he lent his mechanical expertise to fellow racers. To supplement his income during school summer breaks, he built carburetors and provided general mechanical services. His skill was so well-regarded that people traveled from all over for his help, and he even received requests for assistance from overseas. An avid NASCAR fan, he closely followed the sport from the legendary days of Richard Petty to the eras of Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt. Over his lifetime, he had the thrill of meeting these racing icons firsthand, always cherishing stories from the sport's early years. In the classroom, he used humor to connect with his students, frequently breaking up his lessons with deliberately corny history jokes. He loved to laugh, drawing inspiration from his favorite comedians, Lewis Grizzard and Jeff Foxworthy. John is survived by his daughter Tama and her husband Anthony Nunnelley, daughter Mari Biddle, a grandson, Mitchell Dyson (Theresa), two grand-daughters Sara and Kristina Nunnelley, his sister Lynda Biddle, and special family Mary Gustafson, Dave Badley, Tiffany Moore, Mike McCormack, Leonard and Baron Lowe, and Amy Lang. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, and a premature son, Matthew Biddle along with his some of his buddies Bennie Moncus KIA Vietnam from Dekalb County, Bobby Hugh Moore and Joe Burks of Guntersville. His celebration of life was held at Carr Funeral home Sunday June 21 with burial at Arab City Cemetery. Pastor Ricky Smith of Guntersville First Methodist Church officiated. Mike McCormack, John’s daughters, and special friends shared memories of his life. Pall bearers were Tommy Lowe of Gadsden, Leonard Lowe of Florence, Matthew Wester of Fyffe, Brian Norrell, Mike McCormack, and Jeff McLaughlin of Guntersville. Honorary Pall Bearers were Dr. John Boggess IV, Dr. Larry Walker, Dr. Vasques, Dr. Mihir Kanitkar, James Chitwood, Mike Gilbreath, Buddy Bunch, Tom “TR” Roberts, Arthur Crumpler, Jason Kirkland, Ronnie and Shane Vaughn and all former students and Crimson Guard loading crew.

John R Biddle

April 29, 1943 - June 16, 2026