Obituary of John W. Bluff

John Wallace Bluff, 85, of Hollister, CA passed away at home, peacefully on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. John was born on May 24, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA to Raymond and Helen Bluff. John served in the United States Marine reserve from 1956 to 1962. He graduated from Cal State LA where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Police Science. He went on to work for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department from the age of 20 until he retired at the age of forty. He became the Sheriff’s Department first fixed wing pilot and eventually moved on to flying helicopters for the Search and Rescue Team in Catalina Island and the Angeles National Forest. John moved his family to La Canada in 1973 during this time and after retiring from LA County Sheriff’s, he worked as a General Contractor, where his love of architecture allowed him to design and build custom homes and small commercial buildings. Eventually, he settled in Hollister where he enjoyed being outdoors, farming, and tending to his animals. John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margaret, and his four daughters, Carrie, Jan, Jacki and Heidi as well as 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him as a generous man, always willing to lend a hand. His stories from the time he was LA County Rescue were not only interesting and exciting, but heroic as well.