John L. Sands, 81, of Lafayette, passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2018 from a cardiac arrest following a long battle with leukemia and kidney disease. He was born on August 2, 1937 to the late Orville and Ellouise (Perry) Sands. John graduated in 1955 from North Manchester High School and in 1959 from Manchester College. He later earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Purdue University.

John worked at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis before joining Great Lakes Chemical in Lafayette, from which he retired. He traveled to several countries and worked on many different projects, including the development of sucralose. 

John was a member and served as a deacon of Faith Church, where he was a Sunday School teacher, leading his last class just a week before his death. He also was a valued “counselor” and listening ear to many family members and friends over the years. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Marjorie; daughters Dana and Robin; stepdaughter Melanie (Andy) Puckett of Missoula, MT; stepson Tom (Jeannette) Vahle of Mission Hills, KS; and sister Willodean Smith of Laurens, SC. Surviving grandchildren are Jack and Daniel Puckett; Katie, Amanda and Melanie Vahle. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Jenny (Bill) Collins of Lafayette, Shirley (Randy) Brooks of Taylorville, IL, and Suzanne (Dale) Davis of Lake Frederick, VA; and 12 nephews and 16 nieces. He was preceded in death by brothers-in-law F. Ray Burchett and James Smith, sister-in-law Ethel Kiser Hopkins, two nieces and a nephew. 

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd.  Service will be 11:00 am Saturday at Faith Church, 5526 State Road 26 East, Lafayette.  Private entombment will follow at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Mausoleum in West Lafayette.  Memorials may be made to Faith Church Ministries in John’s memory.