"John was a pioneer and an icon in the water heater industry," said Ajita Rajendra, president, A.O. Smith Water Products Co. "We have all lost a good friend and role model, and I know I speak for the entire A.O. Smith family when I say he will be missed."
Born in 1922, Lindahl piloted a B-26 Marauder on 64 bombing raids during World War II. After the war, he returned home to Nashville, Tenn., to manage State Stove & Manufacturing Co., which was cofounded by his father. At the time, Lindahl worked in the factory, delivered water heaters on his truck, and installed them by hand. Two years later, he designed his first original water heating equipment.