BRIDGEWATER — John Henry Oakes, 61, of Bridgewater died Friday, surrounded by his family, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston after a lengthy battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was the husband of Helen Stoddard Oakes.
Born Sept. 17, 1944, in Dorchester, a son of the late John R. and Mary (McFarland) Oakes, he was raised in Quincy.
He was a 1962 graduate of Archbishop Williams High School and also a graduate of Boston State and Bridgewater State Colleges.
Mr. Oakes taught at Brockton High School for 34 years before retiring in 2004.
A Vietnam veteran, he was awarded a Bronze star for valor. Mr. Oakes was a member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion.
He was also a CCD teacher and lector at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
Mr. Oakes was a fan of the Patriots and Red Sox, he first passion was his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters and a son, Michelle Oakes of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Susan Oakes and John R. Oakes, both of Bridgewater; his sisters and brother, Mary Johnson of Hull, Helen LaBrecque of Amherst, N.H., and Thomas Oakes of Quincy; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
His funeral will be held at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday from Prophett Funeral Home, 98 Bedford St., Bridgewater, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Bridgewater. Burial will be in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery.
Visiting hours are Monday 4-8 pm.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1115 West Chestnut St., Brockton, MA 02301.