John. M. Mallia was born on May 1, 1927, in Valparaiso, Chile to United States of America citizens. The family lived in Chile until 1935 when due to his father’s employment moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where John attended school graduating from Balboa High School. John began his U.S. Government Service on April 7, 1949, with the U.S. Air Force Supply Division. On January 5, 1953, he was employed as a Canal Zone Customs Inspector, later he was promoted to a Canal Zone Investigator, With the Panama Canal Treaties, the Canal Zone Customs was terminated, and John spent the last few years of government service with the General Service Bureau. On July 14, 1982, John retired and moved to Dothan, Alabama. As a dutiful and unselfish son, he took care of his mother until her death on September 16, 1997. On November 13, 2019, John moved to Providence Living in Ozark, Alabama, where he was living at the time of his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Felix Mallia; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Earl Mullins, Sr., his brother, Louis Mallia. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Mallia (Janice) of Mandeville, Louisiana; his nephew, James Mullins (Karen) of Arnold, Maryland, whom were constantly there to help him through the years. Also, many nieces and nephews; grand and great-great nieces and nephews. John was a long-time member of the Panama Canal Society and enjoyed reading the Canal Record.
A memorial service to honor John’s life and service will be held at 1:00 PM on February 7, 2026, at Ward Wilson Funeral Home, 2414 Hartford Highway, Dothan, Alabama.
