John Dudley Earhart
January 13, 1943 — October 3, 2017
John Dudley Earhart Jr., 74, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, John graduated from Messick High School in 1961 and the United States Naval Academy in 1966.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Dudley Earhart, Sr. and his infant son, Geoffrey Scott Earhart. He is survived by his mother, Anne Earhart of Memphis, TN and his wife of 51 years, Kay S. Earhart of Orange Park, FL. He leaves behind two daughters, Whitney Earhart of Nashville, TN and Amelia Earhart Daniels, and his son-in-law, Michael Daniels, both of Knoxville, TN. He was affectionately known as "G-Daddy" to his grandchildren: Anna Drake Daniels, Benjamin "Bear" Daniels, and John Price Daniels, of Knoxville, TN. He is also survived by his sister, Karen Earhart Worrell and brother-in-law, Max Worrell of Memphis, TN, and his brother, Larry Earhart and sister-in-law, Sandra Earhart of Toccoa, Georgia.
Following in his father's footsteps, John proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He earned an appointment to the US Naval Academy, where he forged lifelong friendships with his company mates and cultivated fond memories competing on the squash courts, sailing the Chesapeake, and playing field ball. After graduation from USNA in 1966, he attended flight school and was later selected for test pilot school.
John spent his 20-year Navy career in the VS community of carrier-based submarine hunters. He retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1986. John built a second career in residential real estate with Watson Realty; he enjoyed helping people, including many Navy families, find homes in the greater Jacksonville area.
He loved to travel with his wife and could recall in great detail the places he visited and people he met in far stretches of the world. He was an avid reader and wordsmith who loved crosswords and trivia. He enjoyed golfing and watching football, both of which he shared with his daughter Amelia. Music was an important part of John's life; he loved attending concerts and shows in Jacksonville with Kay and in Nashville with Whitney. John had a passion for photography, a love for spicy foods, and a quick wit.
John was a true friend, dedicating his time to his classmates from the Naval Academy, organizing "come arounds" and other activities to bond, to reminisce and especially to cheer on the Navy Football team. Go Navy, Beat Army!
Above all, he was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather to his family of which he was inordinately proud. John and Kay were high school sweethearts; they married the Sunday following his graduation from the Naval Academy. His adoring love for her grew through the decades. He loved his daughters fiercely and protected them, guided them, and celebrated them. When John became a grandfather, his heart grew even bigger. He showered his grandchildren with love and took pride in every first step and first word.
A memorial service will be held at Orange Park Presbyterian Church at 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 12, 2017. Rev. John Diller and retired Rev. Dwight Bayley will lead the memorial. Following the service, all are invited to a celebration of John Earhart's life at the Winterbourne Inn at Club Continental.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Dudley Earhart, Sr. and his infant son, Geoffrey Scott Earhart. He is survived by his mother, Anne Earhart of Memphis, TN and his wife of 51 years, Kay S. Earhart of Orange Park, FL. He leaves behind two daughters, Whitney Earhart of Nashville, TN and Amelia Earhart Daniels, and his son-in-law, Michael Daniels, both of Knoxville, TN. He was affectionately known as "G-Daddy" to his grandchildren: Anna Drake Daniels, Benjamin "Bear" Daniels, and John Price Daniels, of Knoxville, TN. He is also survived by his sister, Karen Earhart Worrell and brother-in-law, Max Worrell of Memphis, TN, and his brother, Larry Earhart and sister-in-law, Sandra Earhart of Toccoa, Georgia.
Following in his father's footsteps, John proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He earned an appointment to the US Naval Academy, where he forged lifelong friendships with his company mates and cultivated fond memories competing on the squash courts, sailing the Chesapeake, and playing field ball. After graduation from USNA in 1966, he attended flight school and was later selected for test pilot school.
John spent his 20-year Navy career in the VS community of carrier-based submarine hunters. He retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1986. John built a second career in residential real estate with Watson Realty; he enjoyed helping people, including many Navy families, find homes in the greater Jacksonville area.
He loved to travel with his wife and could recall in great detail the places he visited and people he met in far stretches of the world. He was an avid reader and wordsmith who loved crosswords and trivia. He enjoyed golfing and watching football, both of which he shared with his daughter Amelia. Music was an important part of John's life; he loved attending concerts and shows in Jacksonville with Kay and in Nashville with Whitney. John had a passion for photography, a love for spicy foods, and a quick wit.
John was a true friend, dedicating his time to his classmates from the Naval Academy, organizing "come arounds" and other activities to bond, to reminisce and especially to cheer on the Navy Football team. Go Navy, Beat Army!
Above all, he was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather to his family of which he was inordinately proud. John and Kay were high school sweethearts; they married the Sunday following his graduation from the Naval Academy. His adoring love for her grew through the decades. He loved his daughters fiercely and protected them, guided them, and celebrated them. When John became a grandfather, his heart grew even bigger. He showered his grandchildren with love and took pride in every first step and first word.
A memorial service will be held at Orange Park Presbyterian Church at 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 12, 2017. Rev. John Diller and retired Rev. Dwight Bayley will lead the memorial. Following the service, all are invited to a celebration of John Earhart's life at the Winterbourne Inn at Club Continental.
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