1929-2018
John Francis Giblin went to be with our Lord on September 24, 2018 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mae Carolyn White Giblin; a brother, Frank (Jane) Giblin from Rochester Hills, Michigan; a sister, Joan (Edward-deceased) Konno of Orion, Michigan; an adopted daughter, Demetra Giblin of Chicago, Illinois, three step-children: Kim (Jose) Barcena of Navarre, Scott (Marcy) Forster of Pensacola, and Donna Forster of Pensacola; seven children from a previous marriage: Ann (Danny) Reimer of Mobile, Alabama, Susan Gonzalez of Pensacola, Patti (Carl) Wernicke of Pensacola, John (Karen) Giblin of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Steve (Cris) Giblin of Pensacola, Elizabeth (George) Biggs of Pensacola, and Katy Thompson of Jacksonville; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
John Giblin was born to Frank and Alice Peterson Giblin in Flint, Michigan on January 2, 1929. He attended about 20 schools in Florida and Maryland, graduating in 1946 from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach. He served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps from 1946-1948, attaining the rank of sergeant. He earned a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida in 1952. He joined Olin Matthieson Chemical Co. in 1952 at Niagara Falls, New York. He joined Chemstrand Corporation (which became Monsanto Co.) in 1955 at Pensacola. During his 30-year career at Chemstrand/Monsanto, he worked on research and development for the production of synthetic fibers and at Monsanto Corporate Engineering Staff at St. Louis, MO. At his retirement in 1985, he held the position of Principle Engineering Specialist.
John was active in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Environmental Auditing Roundtable and was a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor. Through the years, John was active in several church and civic organizations, including the Lion’s Club.
John enjoyed traveling by automobile in many vehicles (especially his Ford Taurus), sailing his 16-foot compact sailboat, watching Navarre grow and watching Gator Football with his son Steve, his best buddy. He also enjoyed reading and feeding birds with his wife and daughter.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 from10:00-11:00 a.m. at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, immediately followed by a service. Interment will take place after the service at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Sylvester’s Church for the Habitat for Humanity Fund, 6464 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.easterngatememorial.com.
