John McLemore Pelton was born in 1937 to Jack and Martha Pelton. He was the oldest of two children. John grew up in Knoxville Tennessee.

John married Patricia King and had two children - Sharon Pelton and Mike Pelton.

John was well educated. He had a Masters of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee Space Institute. He was active in Trinity Lutheran Church and with the Good Samaritan Ministry of Tullahoma. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, boating, camping and hiking.

John was a true "rocket man" being involved in designing and testing the pieces and parts that made the United States space program possible.

"When people would say "it's not rocket science" my brother Michael and I would look at each other and smile...because when it was rocket science, it was our dad who knew how to answer the question."  - Sharon Pelton (from the obituary)

Patricia died in 2007. John remarried Kathy who survived him when he died on September 2, 2014 at the age of 78.