Westlake, VA - John Robert Duffus passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Westlake, Virginia following a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. He was 63 years old.

Born on St. Patrick's Day, 1962 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Robert and Janet Rowley Duffus, John's family soon moved to Cumberland, Maryland, A proud Mountaineer, he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1984, later completing his MBA at Frostburg State University.

This academic foundation paved the way for a long and distinguished career in the paper manufacturing Industry; John's career was defined by his leadership in large-scale Industrial operations. While most of his career was with Westvaco/Newpage his most recent position was with Westrock Corporation in Covington, Virginia where he managed key capital work projects. He was a respected and dedicated engineer with a sharp mind, and strong leadership, communication and business skills.

Though John's career was deeply rewarding, he considered his greatest accomplishment the life he built with his wife of 36 years, Tina, and their children. John often said that his life truly began the moment his triplets were born. He adored them, and was extremely proud of their strong work ethic, moral compass, accomplishments and the adults they had become.

A lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and West Virginia Mountaineers, John found great joy in the simple rituals of family life, cooking Sunday morning breakfast and gathering friends and family to his home, always making sure everyone was having a good time and felt welcome.

A perfect Saturday for John was skiing the mountains of West Virginia, navigating his boat on Smith Mountain Lake, or diving into a home project. He was famously optimistic about his "to-do" lists, often telling his children, "This job will only take 15 minutes" a phrase that invariably signaled an entire day of shared manual labor and memories. These days were best capped off with the simple joy of a fresh grilled steak, paired with a glass of red wine.

John is survived by his devoted wife, Tina; his triplets, Erin, Reginald, and Ross; his siblings, Kenneth Duffus and Linda Flanagan; and a close-knit circle of nieces, nephews, and his beloved extended family.

Although John and his family moved many times over the years, his heart was always in the mountains of West Virginia. No matter where life took him, he remained deeply connected to the rugged beauty and spirit of the mountain state. Per John's wishes and at a date to be determined, there will be a Celebration of Life held in the place that he loved the most - Canaan Valley, West Virginia.

In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions, the family kindly requests that you share a favorite memory or photo of John. These memories will be a lasting comfort to those he loved. These may be shared under "Share a Memory" on the left side of the page at www.Oakeys.com.

"Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day."