John L. Gatton Jr.

Gatton, John L., Jr.,

93, of Louisville, crossed the bar on his final voyage home, Wednesday, October 26, 2016.

John grew up in Highland Park, joined the Christian Church in his early teens, attended James Russell Lowell School, Southern Junior High, and two years at Louisville Male, where he received his GED after the war. At the age of sixteen, he soloed at the old Bowman Field and was known for his aerial stunts—landing on the fairway at a local golf course, loops and hammerhead stalls above the park across from his home, and even flying under the Clark Memorial Bridge, which earned a severe reprimand.

Eager to enter the war effort, he ran away to Canada and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, but was discharged when his age was determined, and told in letter by the Prime Minister to come back when he was eighteen. In January, 1941, prior to the U.S. entry into the war, he tried to enlist in the Navy, but was informed they had their quota. Hearing that the Coast Guard needed recruits, John caught a train to St. Louis and enlisted, returning to Louisville only long enough to marry his sweetheart, Margaret Edith Mann. Upon completing boot camp in New Orleans, he was assigned to the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Larkspur. He also saw duty at the USCG Air Station in Biloxi, MS and aboard the cutter USS Buttonwood. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Coast Guard became part of the Navy, and he was sent to Orange, Texas, to commission a new amphibious craft, LCI #96, part of Flotillas 4 and 10, which made landings in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, and on D-Day at Omaha Beach, where four ships were lost. John received the USCG Unit Commendation, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Stars, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. He proudly served from 1941 until 1947 and achieved the rank of Chief Quartermaster.

After the war, John returned to Louisville where he worked for a brief while in the foundry at International Harvester. He then became a Jefferson County Police Officer. That was followed by a two-year period of service as a Correctional Officer with the Federal Penitentiary at Terre Haute, IN., where he attended classes at Indiana State. He again returned to Louisville in 1953 to become one of the first Plant Security Guards hired at the new Appliance Park and rose through the ranks to become Captain of the force. After turning down an opportunity to supervise all security operations for General Electric in New York, he became Safety Engineer, retiring for a brief time in 1986. He was re-hired at General Electric as a Consultant for the Safety-Compensation Administration Sales and Service Operation and Manager of Safety for the CEM Group, retiring for a second time after 37 years with the company. Never one to sit still, he joined the Cardinal Industrial Insulation family as Safety Coordinator and Quality Control Officer, and remained there until his third retirement, choosing to stay at home in order to care for his wife.

John was a former member of the Fairview Christian Church and member of the Fern Creek Christian Church. He was a Plank Owner of the LCI National Association and the USCG William Trump; a Kentucky Colonel; a Mason; a member of the American Legion, the American Society of Safety Engineers, and the Kentucky Fire School. And, he was a life-long University of Louisville Cardinal fan.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Edith; a son, Phillip Lee; parents, John L., Sr. and Annie; and brothers, Owen, Jesse, Freddy, Eddie, Howard, William, and Calvin.

He is survived by three sons, Reverend Doctor Michael of Louisville, Tim (Jackye) of Danville, KY., and Greg (Tonya) of Louisville; three grandchildren, Melanye Vernon, Michael Gatton, and Tommy Gatton, all of Danville, KY.; and four great grandchildren, Taylor, Landon, and Laykin Gatton and Matthew Vernon; a host of nieces and nephews; and his special friend Dody Bandy.

A service celebrating his life will be held at noon on Tuesday, November 1, at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5604 Bardstown Road, with burial including full military honors to follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. Family and friends may call at the funeral home from noon until 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Fern Creek Christian Church designated for its outreach ministry to Fern Creek High School or to the charity of the donor's choice.