John H. Dewell, a former Haines City municipal judge, circuit judge and longtime Polk County public servant, died Thursday of cancer in Lakeland. He was 86.

He was a native of Jacksonville, Fl and had been a lifelong resident of Haines City until six years ago, when he moved to Lakeland.

He was a  graduate of Haines City High School, then attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 and his law degree in 1946. He lettered for the Gators in football in 1939.

After receiving his law degree and serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he went into general law practice with his father, Robert T. Dewell, and his sister, Mary Francis Dewell, in Haines City from 1946 to 1972.

He was assistant solicitor for Polk County from 1951 to 1952, a municipal judge in Haines City from 1952 to 1972, and a special investigator for the State Attorney's Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit in 1953 and 1954.

He was assistant Polk County attorney from 1954 to 1958 and county attorney from 1959 to 1973. From 1973 to 1988, he served as a circuit court judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit and, after he retired from the bench on June 30, 1988, he served as senior judge until 1995.

During his World War II service, Dewell was stationed in the United States, New Guinea and the Philippines.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Haines City, where he also served as elder. He served as moderator of Westminister Presbytery in 1971. He was an associate founder and board member of the Heart of Florida Hospital Association, was past chairman of the trustees of the Rohr Foundation, was chairman of the Juvenile Section was a member of the State Conference of Circuit Judges. In 1999, he was named Pioneer of the Year during the annual Haines City Heritage Days Pioneer Brunch.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert T. and Mary Dewell, and his sister, Mary Francis Dewell.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Louis Sappington Dewell of Lakeland; a son, Robert Banks Dewell of New Orleans; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 104 Scenic Highway, Haines City. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

Memorial donations can be made to Florida Presbyterian Homes Inc., 16 Lake Hunter Drive, Lakeland, FL, or to First Presbyterian Church, 104 Scenic Hwy., Haines City, FL 33844.