John Denny Jeter, son of Martha Mann Denny Jeter and the late Dr. Robert Vernon Jeter, beamed up to heaven Thursday, June 13, 2019.
John was born Feb. 27, 1958, in Plymouth, where his dad practiced medicine.
In addition to his father, John was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Vernon Jeter Jr. His sister, Martha Melicent Jeter; and mother, survive him.
At age 9, John showed aptitude for the science of radio and its sounds. He hooked a “walkie talkie” up to a Sears receiving set with an aerial to a tall pine tree. His teachers complained he was falling asleep in class. He was up all night talking to fellow amateur radio operators in Florida, Georgia and other distant locations.
John was great at improvising any tools needed to complete his goals. Once when his mother got back from the grocery store, he had disassembled her Magnavox TV and record player into a million pieces on the floor. When admonished, he soon had it back together with two screws left over and it worked better than ever.
Moving to Raleigh, after his father’s death, he became active doing lighting for Raleigh’s Children’s Theater. Going to Needham Broughton High School, he was frequently called out of class to repair electrical problems. John built a radio station in the cafeteria so students could listen to music during lunch. Rewarded for his contributions to Broughton, the Service Club tapped him into its organization.
John entered East Carolina University, earning two degrees, a B.A. in Theater and a B.S. in Nursing. John constructed a radio station for ECU, and his fraternity honored him with a special float in the homecoming parade. ECU later sold that radio station to public radio for 1.5 million dollars, making him one of the largest Alumni donors.
John’s greatest dream was to own his own radio station. He came up with Wilmington’s only FM Album Rock Radio Station, 99.3, WZRF, Neptune Radio, of Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington.
Special appreciation goes to his constant and loyal friends, Chuck Agresta, Michael S. Blanchard and Deborah Blanchard.
Graveveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 22, at Oakdale Cemetery, 520 North 15th St., Wilmington.
Memorial gifts to sustain the radio station may be made to John Denny Jeter/WZRF, Neptune Radio Inc., 236 Bagley Ave., Wilmington, NC 28409.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
