John Gillespie

GILLESPIE, SR., John Henry born December 18, 1919 in Trenton, TN. Passed away June 9, 2014 in Palmdale, CA. John was the only child of Bertha Octavia and John Clifford Gillespie. He was a hardworking man who grew up on the family farm in Tennessee with no plumbing or electricity. John joined the Army Air Corps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona he met and married his wife, Clarice. They shared 60 happy years together. After WWII, John went to Pharmacy school. He moved his family to Palmdale in 1954 where his college buddy opened a “drug store”. He later worked at Lancaster Community Hospital Pharmacy. Upon retirement he and his wife, Clarice, spent many years traveling around the U.S. in their motorhome. John’s family was very important to him and he enjoyed spending time with them telling stories of his life and military experiences. He could always be depended on to lend a helping hand. Our Dad and Papa was a kind and gentle man who was well loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. John and Clarice proudly raised 4 children and sent them to college, 3 who became pharmacists and 1 a teacher. John is survived by his children, Ronald Floyd Gillespie and wife Regina of N. Palm Beach, FL, John Henry Gillespie, Jr. and wife Gloria of Palmdale, CA, Roxana Sue Carmichael and husband Ronald of Quartz Hill, CA, and Thomas Wayne Gillespie of Palmdale, CA, grandchildren, Cindy St. Peter (Jase), Melisa Lyons (Tracy), Jeffrey Carmichael (Teresa), great-grandchildren, Joseph, John and Felicia Lyons, Stephanie Santiago (Rian), Kayla and Gavin St. Peter, and Hugh and Lillian Carmichael. He is preceded in death by his wife Clarice Lillian Gillespie in 2003. A visitation will be held from 4pm to 7pm Tuesday, June 17, 2014 with a funeral service at 11am Wednesday, June 18, 2014 both at Chapel of the Valley Mortuary in Palmdale, CA. For further information or to sign the condolence book please visit www.chapelofthevalleymortuary.com. Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, Palmdale Directors.