Mr. John William Troutman, 86, of Raleigh, N.C, and formerly of Lancaster, S.C., passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025, with his son Scott by his side.
John was born on April 24, 1938, in Iredell County, N.C., to Espy Tays Troutman Sr. and Iola Norris Troutman. The baby of the family, John was one of six children to grow up on the modest family farm situated on Troutman Farm Road in Troutman, N.C.
John graduated from N.C. State University in 1960 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering. While at N.C. State, John joined the wrestling team with no prior experience and went on to letter twice in the sport. He was also a proud member of the N.C. Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. John’s love for N.C. State would continue throughout his life, cheering on the Wolfpack from near and far. John was a season ticket holder for N.C. State’s football program, instilled a love for the Wolfpack throughout his family, and established endowments in the College of Engineering and to support the N.C. State wrestling program.
His first job out of N.C. State took him to Union Carbide in Institute, W.Va., where he would meet the love of his life, Patricia “Pat” Lee Figley. The couple wed on March 9, 1963 and were happily married for 57 years until Pat’s passing in October 2020. John and Pat were the proud and loving parents of two boys, William Scott Troutman and John Mitchell Troutman. John was a loving father who stressed discipline and effort, and enjoyed coaching little league baseball, watching Wolfpack sports and attending church with his family. Even after working eight-hour shifts, John would still make time to read to the boys and rub their legs when they had growing pains. John was more than just a father; he was a Dad in every sense of the word. John and Pat were also pet parents to several dogs (mainly dachshunds) and cats over the years, who were equally a part of their loving family.
Professionally, John had a passion for metallurgy. After Union Carbide, John worked at Teledyne-Allvac in Monroe, N.C. before embarking on a nearly 30-year career at Nucor Steel. John’s career at Nucor led him to stints in Florence, S.C., and Norfolk, Neb., before retiring from the company as Vice President and General Manager of Nucor’s wire facility in Lancaster, S,C. Coming from humble beginnings, John will be remembered for his successful career and ability to provide for those he loved.
Beyond his career, John was a true Renaissance man with a wide array of interests. He was a tinkerer at heart, with a passion for collecting pocket watches, a hobby that gave him much joy. He also restored his brother’s 1930 A Model car, which he continued to cherish throughout his life. John’s love for life extended to many other pursuits, including beekeeping, gardening, flying, and playing the banjo. He was also known for his iconic handlebar mustache, which became a trademark of his personality. John was always quick with a joke—sometimes inappropriate—and had an infectious laugh that could light up any room. His mischievous spirit and sense of humor will be fondly remembered.
John spent his final years in assisted living in Raleigh, N.C., receiving frequent visits from his son Scott, daughter-in-law Roslyn, and grandchildren Tays and Call. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of his caretakers at Magnolia Glen and Morningside of Raleigh.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Espy Tays Sr. and Iola Norris Troutman; his wife, Patricia Figley Troutman; and two brothers and one sister, Ray Kent Troutman, Espy Tays Troutman Jr., and Irene Troutman Sutter. He is survived by his two sons, William Scott Troutman (Roslyn) of Raleigh, N.C., and John Mitchell Troutman of Flagstaff, Ariz.; six grandchildren, William Tays, Edwards Call, Eleanor “Ellis” Scott, Henry Poe, Bailey Elizabeth, and Jasper Renee; and two sisters, Eleanor Troutman Hyde of Roswell, Ga., and Leithia Troutman Duncan of Statesville, N.C. Several nieces and nephews also survive, whom he loved dearly and fondly cherished being “Uncle Johnny.”
John’s legacy of kindness, integrity, and love for his family and friends will forever be cherished. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him.
A memorial and burial service will be held at or around the Troutman Family Reunion, which takes place on the second Saturday in October. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in John’s memory to the John and Patricia Troutman Scholarship in N.C. State’s College of Engineering at https://go.ncsu.edu/troutmanscholarship.
Troutman Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. John Troutman.