Col John W Gillespie, April 24, 1926 — May 01, 2019

Col John W Gillespie (West Union, South Carolina, SC) April 24, 1926 May 01, 2019 Death notice, Obituaries, Necrology
Col John W Gillespie Obituary Photo

Col. John William “Bill” Gillespie, USA, Retired, of Walhalla, South Carolina, died on May 1, 2019, at Cottingham House in Seneca, South Carolina. The Colonel was born in Walhalla on April 24, 1926.

He was preceded in death by his parents John Burton and Maggie Abbott Gillespie and by his sister Frances Gillespie Todd. He is survived by his wife Inez Wilson Gillespie of Walhalla; his children Cheree Gillespie of Greenville, John Gillespie, Jr. (Susan Orlean), of Los Angeles, CA, and Pine Plains, NY, and Mark Gillespie (Penny) of Centreville, VA; and grandchildren Jay Gillespie (Gabrielle), Christina Gillespie, and Austin Gillespie. He graduated from Walhalla High School where he played many sports.

He held a private pilot license. In 1943, he matriculated at Clemson College and lettered in football under Coach Frank Howard. After his 18th birthday, he trained as a bombardier in the US Army Air Corps.

When WWII ended, he returned to Clemson, was on the track and tennis teams, earned a B.S. in chemistry (1948), an M.S. in entomology (1954), and taught chemistry before returning to active duty in the US Army Chemical Corps (1956). Until his retirement in 1983, Gillespie specialized in chemical, biological, and radiological warfare. He earned a B.S. in nuclear physics from the Naval Postgraduate School (1962) and graduated from the US Army War College (1972).

His career included duty in CBRW research, teaching, Chemical Officer for the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam (1968-69), and commander of the Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center. Among his medals were the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross W/OLC, Bronze Star, and Air Medal with “V” device 11th award. The Colonel’s 93 years were full of tennis, golf, loving his family and friends, music, cheesecake, humor, Stuart Woods, nickel poker, and taking credit for spurring the Tigers to 2 football national championships by leading his Morningside of Seneca friends in Clemson cheers during the meal before each game.

The list is not necessarily in order of importance to him. A funeral service followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be on a date to be determined. Memorials may be sent to the Arthritis National Research Foundation via curearthritis.org/donation/.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Col John W Gillespie please visit our Sympathy Store.

If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.

death notice Col John W Gillespie April 24, 1926 — May 01, 2019

obituary notice Col John W Gillespie April 24, 1926 — May 01, 2019

City West Union is located in the South Carolina. This city is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It has its own architecture, attractions, the beauty of nature which attracts a huge number of tourists.

West Union is recognized by the huge number of celebrities born here who have become famous not only in the United States, but all over the world. However, West Union is not only famous for its celebrities. This city is also home to a huge number of people, all of whom have their own story to tell. Finding out the story of a public person is easy: just use an Internet search and you will find all the necessary information in front of you. With non-public people, everything is somewhat more complicated: about them not so much information in the public domain, but it still is. For example, using search services, you can learn the history of the deceased person and find his obituary.

This page is a cache taken from the public sources. We do not own or modify obituary in any way. All copyright belongs to the respective owners. Go to funeral home website to view original page.