John William Bouldin, 84, died peacefully at home on Sept. 18, 2024 after a valiant battle with cancer and with a conscious decision to celebrate the end of life with joy and gratitude. John was born in La Junta, Colorado on June 21, 1940 to William Howard Bouldin and Dorothy Oughtred Bouldin. He graduated from Fowler High School and attended Otero Junior College. He served his country in battalion maintenance in the U.S. Army in Worms, Germany from 1962 to 1963. For 35 years he worked as a surveyor and project manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation in Lamar and Craig, Colorado. After retiring, he continued to serve as a consultant for several engineering firms. In 1972 he married Marilyn Waugh and together they raised a family and enjoyed life in Craig for 38 years before moving to Salida in 2007. John was a devoted family man and cherished spending time with his sons- hunting, camping, coaching and attending their athletic events. He will be remembered most for his integrity and benevolence toward others. John exemplified honesty, selflessness and hard work and these qualities inspired those who were lucky enough to know him. John was always willing to help out, and many people turned to him in times of need, be it a stranger who needed a helping hand, a neighbor in a moment of crisis, or his community in need of his engineering expertise for a group project. On the surface, John was a tough cowboy at times, but his heart was tender. During their 52 year marriage John was extremely supportive of Marilyn’s active lifestyle. They also shared in each other’s love for travel and working on charitable projects. A proud member of the First Presbyterian Church of Salida, the American Legion, the VFW, and last, but not least, the Liars Club at McDonalds. John was a pillar of his community who was happiest when surrounded by friends, family, dogs, and the open road. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his sons Scott and Todd and their respective wives, Kim Bouldin and Emily Latta, grandchildren Lillian Wood and Cooper Wood, and numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Alice and brother Charles Raymond. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 7 Poncha Blvd.in Salida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at a later date at salidapresbyterian.org under the sermons tab. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Chaffee County Community Foundation or the LOVE fund at the First Presbyterian Church. Internment will be in the Fowler, Colorado Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered at LewisandGlenn.com.