John David Gearhart, 68, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Monday, June 30, 2014, at Pruitt Health Osceola in Ocilla, Georgia.
A memorial service will be held at 5 PM, Saturday, July 12, 2014 at St. Williams Catholic Church with Father Paul O'Connell, officiating.
Mr. Gearhart was born January 26, 1946 in Buchanan, Michigan to the late Kenneth Armour and Frances Catherine Irvin Gearhart. A former resident of Michigan, he had lived in our community since 1996. He was a former parts and service manager with Coachmen Industries. While living in Michigan, he was a volunteer firefighter for 15 years and a policeman for five years in Dowagiac, Michigan and five years in Marcellus, Michigan. He served in the United States Marine Corp. from 1963 to 1971. Mr. Gearhart was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years: Paulette H. Gearhart of Fitzgerald; children and spouses: Jonell G. & Clayton Dean of Fitzgerald, Robert David Gearhart of Fitzgerald, Tamara G. & Wayne Ferguson of Howe, Indiana and Angela G. & Jeffrey Biggart of Benton, Harbor, Michigan; grandchildren: Morgan Brown, Erich Biggart, Kayla Keifer, Carly Ferguson, Paige Dean, Gage Dean and McKenzie Dean; one great-grandchild: Paisley Biggart; two brothers: Paul & Jane Gearhart of Arizona and Kenneth Edward Gearhart of Sturgis, Michigan and a sister: Catherine G. & Frank Bell of Anacortes, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents.