John Gibson

John Walker (Jack) Gibson, age 93, died peacefully on February 5th, 2018. The son of Joseph Gibson Jr. and Mary Murphy Gibson, he was born July 2, 1924. He is survived by his wife, Jane Maynard Gibson of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, son Thomas Carothers Gibson and daughter, Mary Lea Gibson Bryant (Rick); four grandchildren: John Frederick Bryant (Mary Kathryn), Laura Lea Bryant Goldberg (Max), William Vernon Bryant (Courtney), and Joseph Maximilien Gibson; one great-granddaughter, Kathryn Carothers Bryant and one great-grandson, William Harbert Bryant; step-children Susan Wade (Jim), Anne Gearhart (Bruce), Betsy Plum and Peter Gilbert (Marian) and nine step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of fifty-three years, Elizabeth Lea Carothers Gibson, his son, Joseph Gibson III, and sisters, Matilda Gibson McCurdy and Suzanne Gibson Fassnacht.
Jack attended Parmer School, Montgomery Bell Academy, and The Baylor School in Chattanooga. He attended Vanderbilt University until late 1942 when he joined the Aviation Cadet Program and won his wings as a Navy fighter pilot. In 1946, he rose to the rank of Lt. J.G. USNR, before returning to finish his education at Sewanee: The University of the South from which he graduated in 1948. At both Baylor and Sewanee, he played on the varsity tennis team. Jack’s memories of flying Corsairs off aircraft carriers were some of his fondest and most thrilling. His professional life included various entrepreneurial ventures before working in marketing at Buntin Advertising. After his retirement in 1992 and many years living in Nashville, he moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Along with tennis, Jack enjoyed golf, fishing, photography and keeping up with trends in aviation. Throughout his years, memberships included Rotary Club, Belle Meade Country Club, The Honors Course, Sawgrass Country Club and the Ponte Vedra Club. His joyful blue eyes and ever present sense of humor will be missed by his family and friends.
A family service was held at Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra, February 6, 2018. There will be a private interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Community Hospice Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or to the charity of your choosing.