John P. Heath was born in Grafton, Ohio to Ray and Mercy Heath. His early schooling was in the public schools of Grafton, Ohio after which he entered the military service in 1946.

His first marriage brought two children, Gary and J. Richard Heath. Later, while in the service in Colorado Springs, he remarried, this time to Mary Grotberg, in 1956. Their three children. were Brian, Gregory and Karen. During John's tour of duty in Africa (Libya) Mrs. Heath returned to Valley City, her family home, for a period of eighteen months.

After a tour of duty in Korea, the family moved to the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, the final duty station for John. Retiring after twenty years of service, the Heaths returned to Valley City and the farming community they had dreamed of retiring to, since both were originally from farming communities.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 98