John Ezra Gauldin III

John Ezra Gauldin III entered fully into the presence of his Lord on Saturday, April 29, 2023 surrounded by his wife and children. He will be remembered as a follower of Christ, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, Tennessean, fighter pilot, outdoorsman, mentor, practical joker, golfer, businessman, and lifelong member of First Baptist Church Dyersburg.
He was born January 5, 1933 in his grandparents' house on his family farm in Newbern, Tennessee. He grew up on his family land with his doting parents, surrounded by his beloved extended family, and his earliest years of life fostered a deep love and affection for his native Dyer County. He attended Dyersburg High School, where he played football all four years and served as Vice President of the Class of 1950. John was proud to be the founding member and President of the Dyersburg High School Key Club. He attended the University of Tennessee for one year, where he pledged and joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. His lifelong dream was realized in 1951 when he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a degree in engineering and military science in 1955.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force where he served his country as a pilot, instructor pilot, senior pilot, and flight test pilot from 1955-1965, achieving the rank of Captain. During this time, he flew the F-104 Starfighter, which is the type of aircraft that set the world speed record, world altitude record, and five-time world time-to-climb record. He even achieved the world altitude record while he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington. He was appointed Aide de Camp to General Roy Shores, the Commander of the 25th and 26th Air Divisions and Chief of Staff of the North American Aerospace Defense Command/Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He made the very difficult decision to leave the Air Force in 1965 after moving nine times in ten years. He relocated with his wife and children back to his hometown of Dyersburg with the intention of focusing on his family. Soon after moving back, he was employed by First Tennessee Bank and worked there until his retirement in 1998. During this time, he was elected outstanding young man of the year, outstanding boss of the year, and ultimately served as the community bank President and CEO. Every morning for many years after retirement, he could be found enjoying coffee with his friends upstairs at the bank.
John was extremely passionate about Dyersburg and served his community well. He was a Dyersburg City School Board member for 12 years, including time served as chairman; Methodist Hospital Dyersburg board member for 12 years, including time served as vice chairman; president of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce; chairman of the Dyersburg Industrial Board; chairman of the Red Cross Board; a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Bankers Association; and a member of the Kiwanis Club for 32 years.
Of all his affiliations, John was most proud to be a lifelong member of First Baptist Church Dyersburg. John enjoyed teaching the teenage boys' Sunday School class for many years. He served as a deacon for 50 years and was a member of the building and personnel committees for over 25 years. As chairman of the building committee, he oversaw the addition of the Fellowship Hall, Children's Building, and Family Living Center, which are significant additions to the church campus that are still heavily in use today. He was a steadfast member of the Biblos Sunday School class. John's faith and devotion to his church family defined his life; a legacy that lives on in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
John was an avid outdoorsman and had a deep affection for his family land, which is a certified Century Farm. He was an ardent supporter of the Dyersburg Trojans, Tennessee Volunteers, Navy Midshipmen, and St. Louis Cardinals. He started playing golf to spend time with his son and ended up falling in love with the sport. Perhaps his favorite thing about golf was that it provided an arena for him to play practical jokes on his friends. John had many beautiful memories of traveling the world with his wife and their closest friends, many of whom are the members of his wife's beloved "Sewing Circle" and their husbands. His grandchildren will never forget his uncanny talent for hiding Easter eggs, his rousing performances of "Tater Pie" and "Little Fly" every Christmas Eve, his contagious laughter after playing a prank on their "Nonnie", and the look of delight on his face each time he saw them.
John joins his parents, John Ezra Gauldin II and Kathlyne King Gauldin, his younger brother, James Michael Gauldin, and a host of extended family and dear friends in the Kingdom of Heaven.
John's exceptional life is celebrated by his devoted wife of 67 years, Tommye Canada Gauldin, and his loving children, Kathy Gauldin Robertson (James) and John Michael Gauldin (Melissa). He will be terribly missed by his adoring grandchildren: John Eric Robertson (Cate), Anna Kathryn Robertson, Rachel Gauldin Prifti (Michael), and John Aaron Gauldin (Lydia) as well as his precious great-grandchildren: Carter Grace and Luca Knox Prifti, John Everett and Ethan Thomas Robertson, and Georgia James Gauldin. His family mourns the loss of such a wonderful and special man and are so grateful he is now in his fully restored body in the presence of our beloved Lord and Savior.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Dyersburg with Rev. Mike Hickman officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
The family will receive visitors from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2023 at the church.
Memorial gifts may be sent to First Baptist Church, 220 Masonic Street, Dyersburg, TN 38024 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at stjude.org/memorial