HIGH POINT — John A. Gillespie, 80, resident of 91O Flicker Lane, High Point, entered his eternal home on Friday, February 15, 2013. John was born January 21, 1933, in Demorest, GA., the youngest of three children born to J. Marvin & lone White Gillespie. He was educated in public schools in Demorest & graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree in 1955. He received a commission of 1st Lieutenant in U.S. Army through ROTC at Georgia Tech & entered military service at Aberdeen Proving ground, Maryland, & completed his active tour of duty in Germany.
After his military service he was employed with DuPont in Seaford, Delaware & transferred to DuPont headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1967 he joined Hercules, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware where he served in several management positions before retiring in 1989. While with Hercules, he was President of American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS) & named Member of the Year. He was the Hercules Representative on the Chemical Industrial Data Exchange Committee. He was founder of Piedmont EDI Business Forum & Program Chairman of Congress for Progress.
In 1993, John started a 2nd career & joined wife, Jackie, in the real estate business. He retired from Allen Tate Realtors in 2006. John was a true servant of God & enjoyed serving others in his church & volunteering in the community. He was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church where he sang in the Chancel Choir for 18 yrs. He was a member of Aldersgate/Miller Memorial Sunday School & past president, served on church Finance Committee, the Martha/Stephen Guild, & Administrative Board. He served as President of United Methodist Men & was instrumental in building a house for Habitat for Humanity. John was a member of High Point Unit of American Cancer Society & Co-chair of the Cancer Society's Relay for Life for 5 years. He was active in fundraising for United Way & won the Pacesetter Loaned Executive of the Year Award in 1997. He was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board where he served as Chairman of Property Committee. John was an active member of Kiwanis Club where he served on membership & other committees.
He enjoyed travel, boating, beach trips, & music, having sung in church choirs since he was a boy. He enjoyed college sports & was an avid Georgia Tech fan. But most of all, he loved his family, & will be remembered by his grandchildren for his limericks & sense of humor
