Johnnie Gillespie

Rosman -



Johnnie L. Gillespie passed Oct 3, 2008. He was born in Sumter, SC and as a baby, his family moved to East Fork where he grew up. The family became a large family over the years. He was the son of the late Elmer and Victoria Gillespie, six generations removed from the rifle makers of East Fork Gillespie's.

He was preceeded in death by his wife Marriah and a son Philip Gillespie, two sisters, Zandra Lance and Cornelia McCarthy Amic, and a grandson Garland W. Gillespie.

Johnnie is survived by; his son Gary and his wife Susie, two grandchildren Darin Gillespie and Amy Campbell; plus, three great-grandchildren Andrew Scott Gillespie, Abby Campbell, and Grace Gillespie. He has three brothers; Joseph Gillespie and his wife, Avarie, C. E. Gillespie and his wife Mary, Alvin Gillespie and his wife Nita. He has four sisters, Reba King, Victoria Trent, Mildred Taylor, and Edith Jo Gillespie.

He was a logger in his youth working with family; cutting and hauling timber on East Fork. He left school and family at fourteen to work in the CCC's in Washington state to help provide for a growing family on East Fork. He served honorably in the US Army in World War II, earning the EAMET Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars. He saw action in Normandy, the Rhineland and central Europe following the D-day invasion. He was a carpenter his whole life, building houses in the county. He sawed dogwood blocks. Shuttles were manufactured from the blocks for use in the textile industry. Johnnie retired from film manufacturing working with EI DuPont at Cedar Mountain, in the late years of his work career.

He was a staunch democrat and served on the Transylvania County School Board in the late 50's.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm Monday at the Rosman Methodist Church where Johnnie was a member and served on the Administrative Board and as a Sunday School teacher for years. Burial will be at the East Fork Methodist Cemetery following the service with military rites conducted by the Honor Guard for Veterans of Transylvania County.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:00 pm Sunday at Moore Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the East Fork Methodist Cemetery Fund at the Carolina Mountains Credit Union, Penrose, NC.

To leave a condolence message for the Gillespie family, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com .

Moore Funeral Home is caring for the family.