Warwickicans are likely to remember John Caruthers best from his bicycle.

It wasn’t a fancy bike, just a practical “get you to where you need to be” bike with a single gear and a place over the rear wheel to strap down stuff. John stood tall and wisely wore a helmet wherever he went. He’d stop in at the Beacon occasionally to talk politics and drop off a letter to the editor, which was often accompanied by a series of cartoons he’d drawn.

About 12 years ago, he made his final Beacon visit to bid us farewell as he headed south to Tupelo, Mississippi. He wanted to be sure he could continue to get the Beacon. We signed him up so he could stay connected to Warwick and he would call annually to renew his subscription and chatter about what was happening in Warwick.

He was up on the news. He’d share his opinions and we would periodically get a thick envelope stuffed with his latest ramblings and cartoons.

Last week we learned from Becky Arnold, a parishioner at Asbury United Church, that John died on Dec. 23 at the Green Houses at United Methodist Senior Services in Tupelo. He was 86.

An internet search found John’s obituary in the Tupelo Daily Journal. It reports at a young age, he developed a love for music taught by his step-mother Ginnie Caruthers, with whom he had a close relationship. “John could rip a piano up!” reads the obituary.

He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tn., where he considered himself having the best preparatory education in the land. John received his Bachelors Degree in Music from the University of Mississippi and later furthered his formal education with a Masters from Louisiana State University. A born educator and lifelong student of learning, John had a full career as an elementary music teacher in North Kingstown retiring after 30 years.

He moved to Tupelo about 12 years ago where he became a regular at musical and artistic functions in the area. His love of music led him to sing in the choir and play piano/organ for Sunday school at Tupelo's First United Methodist Church and later, at West Jackson St. Baptist Church, where he found great joy in the music and worship ministry there. “A big fan of American Family Radio, John's zeal and zest for life, living, singing and making music and serving his creator will be his legacy,” according to his obituary.

Becky Arnold remembers John participating in MS bike-a-thons from 1990 to 1997 using “his very basic bike with no gears.”

“He was a devoted Christian, funny, musician, teacher, quirky, friendly, etc. He shall be missed by those of us privileged to be called his friend,” she wrote in an email.

As the word went out, remembrances of John accompanied his obituary.

“How many people do you know who can tell you all the names of their instructors from 1st grade through college and what class they taught,” asks Jan Jones.

“A true Christian, he taught us to be strong, reliant, and obedient Christians. He shared his music with so many young people. As an itinerant public school teacher, he would take a week away from church affairs to write a personal note on each and every child’s report card every six-week grading period,” Jan continues.

She recalls his Donald Duck impressions and his roller coaster stories, but it is the bicycle that she comes back to.

“Thanks for sharing him all those years. We were certainly blessed. Asbury UMC was a big part of his life here in RI! An icon to many as he rode that bike all over the state, rain or shine!”