SALISBURY - John M. Holton III, originally from Philadelphia and New London, recently of Salisbury, died suddenly on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. He was 54 years old. John was a 1978 graduate of Kearsarge Regional High School. He was a paraprofessional for handicapped children for 32 years, teaching at Concord High School, Merrimack Valley High school and Newport High School. John particularly enjoyed encouraging handicapped students' confidence as they graduated into other phases of their lives. His responsibilities included placing students and supervising their employment opportunities, swimming programs and fitness programs. He helped to encourage his students in their attitudes and efforts in learning. John also received a certificate in culinary arts from Newbury College and was a skilled chef. His other interests were in sports teams, skiing, gardening and tracking weather issues. He received an award from Colby-Sawyer College for staff development in bullying issues as well as a plaque for his "Service to the Developmentally Disabled in Merrimack County." John is survived by his father, attorney John M. Holton Jr. (Michele); his mother, Anne Pew Curran (Edward); his sister, Alexandra Holton-Hill (Garry); cousins, John P.H. Holton (Ashley), Emery Holton, Ian Holton, Charles F. Giles IV, Molly C. Giles; half-brothers, William Curran and Charles Curran; stepbrothers, Charles F. Giles III and Christopher M. Giles (Mary). . services: There are no calling hours. A funeral service will be held at the Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church, 82 King Hill Road, New London, on Saturday. March 23, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 2207, New London, 03257. Condolences may be expressed online at jholtonjr@tds.net. Chadwick Funeral Service of New London is assisting the family with arrangements.