John Allen Carwile

John Allen Carwile, 71, died Sunday, September 29, 2024. A lifelong Peninsula resident, he grew up in the Wythe neighborhood where he made lifelong friendships, learned to love the water and was an active member of Wythe Presbyterian Church. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, boating, and hunting every chance he could. Johnny loved a good meal and proved to be an outstanding cook, which his family appreciated greatly.  He was active with the Boy Scouts of America throughout his life including being selected as an Order of the Arrow member and serving as the troop leader for troop 29.

Johnny was compassionate and caring and had a deep loyalty to his country. He joined the medical profession in 1978 as Registered Nurse at the VA Medical Center in Hampton. He took great pride in caring for our veterans and did so for 32 years. Joining the Army as a reservist in 1979, at the age of 26, he rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel and was responsible for managing field hospital operations. In 2006, he was activated to duty in support of the war efforts, first serving as a nurse at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Upon his return, he served as a Case Manager with the Wounded Warrior Project in Virginia Beach. He retired from service in 2010 after 31 years of honorable service.

Preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Rebecca Carwile and his brother, Bill Carwile; survivors include his wife, Maggie Carwile; his sons, Bryan Castellow and wife, Fran and David Carwile and wife, Jessica; six grandchildren, Caroline, Kate and Karsen Castellow and Andrew, Bradley and Caleb Carwile; his brother, Tucker Carwile and wife, Rebecca; two sisters, Barbara Thomas and husband, Leonard and JoAnne Ragland and husband, Charlie; his lifelong best friend, Randy Morris; and all of the Wythe Fraternity boys, colleagues at the Hampton VA Medical Center and the 18th Army Field Hospital.

The family would especially like to thank the staff of the Spinal Cord unit at the Hampton VA Medical Center for their care and love of Johnny over the past several years, as well as the village of support that surrounded him.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Wythe Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. Inurnment with full Army honors will take place in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Attn: Philanthropy, 601 Children’s Lane, Norfolk, VA 23507.

Johnny’s courage, positivity and love were gifts to his family, friends, colleagues, and patients he cared for, and will be missed by all.