John Keith Alston

John Keith Alston, 69, of Mesa, AZ passed away on January 5, 2024 in his home after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  John was born on July 17, 1954 to John Henry and Marlene Jensen Alston in Pocatello, Idaho.  He was the third child, and first son, of seven children.

When he was 6-years-old, his family moved from Idaho, across the country to South Carolina where his family made many wonderful memories and grew to love the people of the South.  From a young age John was a motivated self-starter with an attention to detail, which helped him as he took charge of many family responsibilities at home, and worked several different jobs in the community.

Eventually his family moved back west to Utah and then to Las Vegas, Nevada where he graduated from ‘Valley High’ high school in 1973. Not long after that he helped to move his family to settle in the Mesa, Arizona area.

From 1973-1975, John served in the England Bristol Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This spirit of missionary work would continue with him throughout the rest of his life.

After his mission, John met his sweetheart, Delia Ann Hale, when he threw her into a pool at a church activity for the young single adults.  They were married March 11, 1977 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple.

John graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration.  After college, they lived in Vallejo and Fairfield, CA for a few years where John worked as a sporting goods sales representative.  Eventually, new job opportunities brought him back to Arizona to be amongst family.  John worked sales and then eventually insurance for many years.

Introduced by his Uncle Don Jensen, John navigated the world of broadcasting.  After 10 uncertain years, in 1995, he was able to secure and create the station WB 61 with his brother-in-law, Gregg Brooks, where they were proud to bring General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Phoenix Valley.

John had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He loved serving in the church and early on worked as a young men’s president and scout master, helping all four of his sons receive their Eagle Scout Awards.  He later went on to serve in the ward bishopric, on the stake high council, and loved serving as a ward missionary.

John had a gift of making people feel loved.  He could never enter an elevator or public space without making a new friend.  John knew how to make things happen, see things that needed to be done, and get them done in the most efficient manner possible.  He was funny, kind, and always a friend to the underdog.

Supporting his family was one of his greatest joys.   Through paper routes, making dip packets, school musicals, cast parties, fundraisers, dance festivals, church callings, coach, Little League president, trip planner, and listener he was there for the people he loved.

John is preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his wife: Delia, his siblings: Kathy (Gregg) Brooks, Teri (Rocky) Turner, Lori (Steven) Rhoton, Steven, Richard, David (Sandra), Mari-Ann (Jeremy) Allen and his seven children: John (Jamie), Christopher (Maria), Joshua (Amelia), Rebecca (Rob) Bingham, Jaimie, Jason (Anna), Katie (Kyle) Spaulding, and his 22 grandchildren.

Services will be held January 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the LDS Mountain View Stake Center (1550 N. Val Vista Dr, Mesa, AZ).  There will be a viewing held Thursday, January 11 from 6:00-8:00 PM and Friday, January 12 at 10:00 AM.  Interment will take place at the City of Mesa Cemetery, Saturday, January 13.

For those who are unable to attend the service in person, you will be able to view it here:  https://zoom.us/j/96606610728

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.