J. Easton Gillespie Jr. in the wagon, c. 1927Born: September 12, 1923
Died: October 1, 2003
Married: Louise Marie Middaugh
Children: Jean Darrah, Sandra Carrier Cimbrec, Carol Sinteff
J. Easton Gillespie Jr. was a World War II veteran; he owned and operated the Adirondack Auto Body Shop. He was a son of J. Easton Gillespie, Sr.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 2, 2003
John E. Gillespie Jr.
John Easton Gillespie Jr. “Jack,” 80, of 20 Church St., Saranac Lake, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003 at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.
Born Sept. 12, 1923 in Bloomingdale on the family homestead, he was the son of John E. Gillespie and Grace L. Hill. He married Marie Louise Middough [sic] on Feb. 18, 1950.
He attended Bloomingdale School and worked delivering milk and newspapers to Bloomingdale residents. He then enlisted in the United States Navy serving from 1942 to 1944 during World War II as a seaman first class, a gunner and a frogman. He was present during the invasion of Normandy to deliver troops. He served on the Queen Mary and the U.S.S. Europa and was honorably discharged. He was awarded the American Theater Medal, Victory Medal, European Theater Medal and Presidential Citation Ribbon.
He then became employed at Carborundum in Buffalo as a laborer until he took up trade school for auto body repair work in New York City. The year following trade school he owned and operated the Adirondack Auto Body Shop at 91 Broadway in Saranac Lake.
He was a past member of the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department and established the Youth Commission Field for Bloomingdale. He was a member of the Saranac Lake Elks Club BPOE 1508 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Saranac Lake.
He was known for his gift of gab and making friends. He loved his country; his family, his community and his friends.
He is survived by one sister, Marjorie Hand and her husband Moris of Wilmington, N.C.; one sister-in-law, Norma Gillespie of Lewiston; his former wife, Marie Tiblis of Saranac Lake; three daughters: Jean Darrah and her husband Tom of Saranac Lake, Sandra Carrier of Pittsburgh and her companion John Cimbrec of Saranac Lake, Carol Sinteff and her husband William of Barnegat, N.J; and three grandchildren: Aaron Seth Gillespie and his companion Kate Hardison of Geasgow, Ky., Chelsea Seheeler of Pittsburgh and Amanda Cartier of Plattsburgh.
He was predeceased by one brother, William L. Gillespie of Lewiston.
Calling hours are scheduled to take place from 2 to .4 and 7 to 9.p.m. Friday, Oct, 3 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A veterans service will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday immediately followed by an Elks service. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the First United Methodist Church in .Saranac Lake, with the Rev. Linda Mclntyre officiating. Burial will follow in Brookside Cemetery in Bloomingdale.
Friends wishing to remember Mr. Gillespie may make memorial contributions, to the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department or the Bloomingdale Youth Commission in care of the funeral home.
