John Warlick III

GASTONIA - Dr. John Thomas Warlick III, 75, passed away at home on May 18, 2016, after a brief illness.

He was born Dec. 26, 1940, in Clover, S.C., the son of the late John Thomas Warlick Jr. and the late Pauline Mace Warlick.

A graduate of Clover High School and The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Dr. Warlick completed his education at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Tulane University School of Medicine, with residencies in urology and surgery at Tulane and Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1972, he and his family moved to Gastonia, where he joined Drs. Percy Freeman and Grover White as a partner in Gaston Urological Associates. Practicing as a Urological Surgeon for 39 years, Dr. Warlick was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Association, the American Urological Society, the American Association of Clinical Urologists, the American Lithotripsy Society, and Phi Rho Sigma.

An Eagle Scout, member of the Order of the Arrow, and avid Scouter for more than 60 years, Dr. Warlick long held the record in South Carolina for the most merit badges earned by a Boy Scout (81). He followed his youth Scouting career with many years of adult service in numerous unit, council, and regional positions, including as the Piedmont Council's Advancement Chair, Jamboree Chair, and National Council Representative, and various roles with Troops 6 and 7 in Gastonia, earning the District Award of Merit, Adult Religious Award, Wood Badge, and Scouter's Training Key. He served in troop positions and as staff physician at several National and International Boy Scout Jamborees, including jamborees in Chile, Thailand, and England. In honor of his service to the Boy Scouts of America, Dr. Warlick was the recipient of the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope Awards.

A long-time member of Gastonia's First United Methodist Church, where he served as a Stephens Minister and on several church committees, Dr. Warlick sang with the choir for more than 40 years, and shared his trumpet and mentoring talents with the Church's First Brass ensemble. His service was recognized with the Torch Award, the Cross and Flame Award, and the God and Service Award from the United Methodist Church. He participated as a medical missionary on multiple trips to Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Dr. Warlick was a longstanding member of Helping Hands Medical Clinic in Lincoln County, where he provided volunteer medical care on a weekly basis for indigent and immigrant families, and for which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. He also played trumpet for many years with the Gaston Symphonic Band.

A service to celebrate his life will be held 3:30 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church of Gastonia with the Rev. David Christy and Dr. Jim Westmoreland officiating.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia.

Dr. Warlick is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Barbara McMackin Warlick; his son John Thomas Warlick, IV (Tommy) and wife Katie; his daughter Catherine Warlick Charles and husband Steve; and five grandchildren, Mary-Bryant Charles, John Tyler Warlick, Emma Catherine Charles, Hannah Grace Warlick, and John Ellis Charles.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Hal Jerome Warlick.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Boy's and Girl's Scouting Program or to the Music Memorial Fund of First United Methodist Church, PO Box 218, Gastonia, NC 28053 or to Gaston Hospice, PO Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054.

Condolences may be sent online by visiting www.mcleanfuneral.com.

McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the family of Dr. Warlick.