John D. "Old Man John" Gatton, Sr.

John D. “Old Man John” Gatton, Sr., 73, of Fort Wayne passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2020. He was born on March 5, 1947 in Fort Wayne, a son of the late William and Martha (Snyder) Gatton. John graduated from Central Catholic High School where he ran track; he later went on to graduate from International Business College. He served in the U.S. Army, more specifically serving in the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War. He worked at Zollner Piston and then as a mechanic at a number of different locations, most recently at Miky Transport. In his free time, he enjoyed building engines at his home and watching IU basketball. He was very involved in racing and working on all sorts of vehicles. He was inducted in to the Hall of Fame at Baer Field Speedway in 2017. He will be remembered as a man who greatly loved his family, going to as many of his grandchildren’s activities as possible. Surviving family include his wife, Marilyn Gatton; children, Lisa Pennington and John (Stacey) Gatton, Jr.; grandchildren, Jacob and Allyson Pennington, Johnathon and Jordan Gatton, Bradley and Bailee Buchs, and Brittney Martinez; great grandchildren, Maison and Beckham; four sisters, and one brother. Besides his parents, he was preceded in passing by three brothers. Social distance guidelines will be followed so you might be asked to wait outside or in your car. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Rd., Fort Wayne with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be left to the American Alzheimer’s Association.