John Webber Gillespie

John Webber Gillespie was born January 26, 1925 in Sadieville, Kentucky and passed away June 14, 2026 in Florence, Kentucky at the age of 101. He was the son of the late Eddie Ernest and Myrtle Susan Teegarden Gillespie.

John was a retired city of truck driver and dock worker for Dance Freight Lines and Consolidated Freightways in Cincinnati, OH. He was a 1947 graduate of Williamstown High School and went on to serve his country in the United States Navy during WWII. He was a member of the Grant Lodge #85 F & AM for 75 years and Teamsters Union Local #100 for 35 years.

John’s desire to serve after being in the military was evident in his service to the youth of his community. He was a knothole baseball coach in Boone Co., a church league basketball coach for high school age students and a 4th & 5th grade basketball coach at Ockerman Elementary School.

After his retirement he became a golf enthusiast and loved fishing and gardening. John’s greatest joy came from lending a helping hand to his children and grandchildren. He was also a lifelong Cincinnati Reds, Bengals, and UK basketball and football fan.

On Oct. 28, 1950 he was united in marriage to Jo Anne Leming Gillespie who preceded him in death on Feb. 20, 2023. He is survived by 3 daughters: Ruth Anne (Terry) Tennyson of Summerfield, NC, Emily (Jim) MacFarlane of Florence and Mary Catherine Gillespie of Erlanger; a son: John K. Gillespie (Joyce Jacobs) of Erlanger; 10 Grandchildren; 18 Great Grandchildren; 1 Great Great Grandchild; and multiple nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by a Great Granddaughter: Maxim Ruth Tennyson in 2013; and a Great Grandson: Joseph Brian Iles in 2018.

Visitation will be 9:30 – 11:30 AM, Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Erlanger United Methodist Church 31 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger, KY 41018. Funeral services will be 11:30 AM, Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Erlanger United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the Kentucky Veterans, North in Williamstown.

Memorials are suggested to the Erlanger United Methodist Church, 31 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger, KY 41018, St. Elizabeth Hospice, 483 South Loop, Elsmere, KY  41017 or to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, c/o Stanley Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 130, Williamstown, KY  41097.