Rev. John George Tardibono passed away July 27, 2026, at his home in Warr Acres, OK. He was born on September 23, 1941, in Caccamo, Province Palermo, Sicily, to Serafina Tardibono and Giorgio Carmello Tardibono. He was born and raised on the family farm there and served 2 years in the Italian Army. Upon his discharge in 1963, he decided to immigrate to the USA, where in 1965 he met and married his wife of 61 years, Marietta.

Not speaking a word of English, he enrolled in an English class at Oklahoma City University and then a citizenship class at Central High School in OKC. He was very proud to become an American citizen, taking his oath on January 19, 1969. At that time, John and Marietta lived in Moore, OK, while he worked at Savor Rich Dairy. They then moved back to OKC and John went to work at the newly opened Coca-Cola plant where he started with a job in maintenance and worked his way up to manager of an assembly line.

In 1968, John and Marietta moved to Bethany, OK, and while living there, he enrolled at Trinity Bible College and was ordained a minister of the Gospel. In 1972, they became missionaries to Italy, settling in Rome where he founded the International Evangelical Church which still flourishes to this day. Upon returning from the mission field in 1978, John went to work at Seagate Technology where he retired after 24 years of service. While working at Seagate, he and Marietta also served as Youth Pastors for 7 years at Faith Fellowship Church.

In 2004, they moved to Warr Acres, OK, where John began a retirement career as a security guard at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. He then started working at the Paycom Center, working various events, though his favorites were the Oklahoma City Thunder games. Marietta soon joined him at the Paycom Center and they enjoyed their time working and connecting with their coworkers and event attendees. If the Thunder was away, you would certainly find them cheering the team on from home.

John's heart was to serve God and to serve his family. At times, he worked up to three jobs in order to provide the best education and life opportunities for his sons. John and Marietta attended Victory Church in Warr Acres, OK for most of their adult lives and recently started attending North Church in OKC to be with their family.

John was preceded in death by his parents, 6 of 8 siblings, and 2 grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marietta; 2 siblings, Sarina and Gina; 4 sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Mary, George and Janice, Timothy and Marilyn, and Daniel and Katrina; 19 grandchildren, Savannah and husband Braden Nix, Lydia, Michelle, Michael and wife Kinsey, Gabrielle, Olivia and husband, Sawyer Wilson, Abby, Lilly, Samuel, Sarah, Rachel, Caleb, Sophia, Rocco, Dominic, and Giuliana; 1 goddaughter, Kelly; and 5 great-grandchildren, Camille, Levi, Tripp, Finneas, and David John.

John's family will be present to receive guests on Thursday from 5:30-8:00pm.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Sawyer Wilson at North Church OKC on Friday, July 31 at 10:00am with private burial in Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City.