John Oliver Winslow Paine

John Oliver Winslow Paine was born in Bluefield West Virginia’s Bluefield Sanitarium on December 10, 1957 to Dr. and Mrs. A.J. Paine. John was named for his Great Grandfather, a Captain in the Union Army who served in the Maine regiment during the Civil War. John attended Memorial Elementary School, Fairview Junior High and then Vermont Academy, where he joined the ski team and became proficient in the ski jump event. John was always a top-level skier and in 1975, at age 17, he won in the Junior Category at Snowshoe’s Killy Cupp Challenge. In 1976, he took third place in the Senior Level of the Killy Cupp. John graduated from Bluefield High School in 1976 and began his studies at West Virginia University that fall. He graduated with a degree in Geography in 1981 and thereafter maintained a lifelong fascination with maps, which he collected. In 1983 John married Sherry Sadler and they moved to Poquoson, Virginia, where his mother Bea Paine grew up. Some years later, the marriage ended and John moved to Arlington, Virginia. There he became the top salesman for the Guitar Center music store. This sort of work was well in line with John’s lifetime love of music. In the mid-1990s, John moved to Los Angeles where he found work at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, California. John played guitar and mandolin with the same ease that he slid down the snowy slopes of any ski slope he encountered. After his time on the West Coast came to a close, John moved back east to live in the high mountains of West Virginia. In his time, John lived in several different places and worked in many trades to make his living. He worked as a lumberjack, a water filtration engineer and even did a stint as a cable TV installer. John’s longest and last career move was to work as the Postmaster for Snowshoe, West Virginia, a place that his father helped to establish and where the Paine family had maintained a constant presence since its founding. For well over a decade, John lived at the Paine family dome at Snowshoe. John helped maintain the property there and when the Paine family was absent, he acted as host to the many guests who came to visit by way of online booking. Throughout his time at Snowshoe, John maintained excellent postal service for those who lived and worked at Snowshoe or “The Island in the Sky,” as the resort is sometimes known. In addition, John established an open mic night at a restaurant located at the foot of the mountain. Here, John would often entertain the crowd with his musical gifts. As was his want, John transformed the Dome’s garage into a unique space where he hosted informal but intense ping pong tournaments and jam sessions. John was set to marry Sandy Osborne before her untimely death the day after Christmas 2014. He and her son, David Osborne, coped with this devastating loss together. In 2022 John returned to Bluefield, West Virginia to help care for his parents. Just as he’d done at Snowshoe, John transformed the garage in Bluefield into a space that reflected his own quirky and lovable personality. He continued playing music and developed a passion for electric bicycles. He would often encourage friends to join him in a ride through town or to Bluefield City Park. Though he never had any of his own, John loved children and made a point of endearing himself to the offspring of his siblings. His charm and humor will not be forgotten by his family and those who shared moments in time with this very special person. John Oliver Winslow Paine is survived by his father, Albert James Paine and his siblings Teresa Paine, Pam Paine Abada (Moody), Rick Parsons (Shell), Albert James Paine Jr. and William Patrick Paine (Gina). Nieces and Nephews: Ann Czarnick Fernandez (Jason), William Czarnick, Jordan Abada (Rachel), Jonathan Abada (Katherine), Shanley Paine Hypes (Stephen), Kelsey Paine Schiefer (Case), Katie Paine, Juliana Valentine Paine and James Patrick Hudson Paine. John had many longstanding friendships that include Harry Moore and Bobby Dobbins. Loving caregivers, Cinde Atkinson, Jessica Hanna and Jacob Bowling were especially helpful in his final days. A service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow immediately after the service at the Paine Home, 2120 Mountain View Avenue, Bluefield, WV 24701. Everyone is welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory can be sent to: Mercer County Animal Shelter, 961 Shelter Rd. Princeton, WV 24740 or to The Rector’s Discretionary Fund (help for the needy) Christ Episcopal Church 200 Duhring, St. Bluefield, WV 24701.

John Oliver Winslow Paine

December 10, 1957 - March 18, 2026