John Raymond Pedersen, 83, of Newnan, Georgia, died Tuesday, July 11, at his home. He was born in Gibbon, Nebraska, on May 28, 1934.He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics. He married his wife, LaVonne, in 1956, moved to Washington, D.C., and started work with the Department of Agriculture as an agricultural economist. He later attained his master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Maryland.
In 1969, he left the Department of Agriculture and moved to St. Louis, accepting the vice president of marketing position with Ralston Purina. In 1973, he relocated to Atlanta to accept a vice president of marketing position with the United Egg Producers. In 1976, he left and started his own business named Poultry & Egg Fax.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, LaVonne Weston Pedersen; son, Wendell and wife Meg Pedersen; daughters, Denise and husband Roland McDonald and JoVonne and husband Eric Thomas; and grandchildren, Sara and husband Antonio Delgado, Rachel McDonald, Mary McDonald, Nate Thomas and Daphne Thomas. He is also survived by his brothers and their spouses, Leonard and Phyllis Pedersen and Don and Gerry Pedersen; sister-in-law, D. Pedersen; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
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