John Gemmell Jr.

John Gemmell, Jr. was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 23, 1940, to Mildred Poindexter Gemmell and John Gemmell, Sr. The family moved to Wilmington in 1950, where John attended Forest Hills School, Chestnut Junior High and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1958 where he was captain of the Golf Team. He went on to Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, where he founded the golf team. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in History. John was an accomplished golfer and golf played a central role in his life. As a high school student, John caddied for Arnold Palmer three years in a row during the Azalea Open Golf Tournament including when Palmer won the tournament in 1957. John won the Club Championship at Cape Fear Country Club in 1976. The same year he also won The Wilmington City Open and the Gib Arthur Memorial. He spent three years in the U.S. Navy stationed in Bermuda before going on to work in banking, finance, and golf, retiring from a career in industrial maintenance. John loved animals, salt water fishing, hunting, and had a true gift for story telling.

John is survived by his son, John Tyler Gemmell and his wife Janet Gemmell of Kure Beach, and his daughter, Meg Gemmell Sperry of Wilmington. Also surviving are his brother Andrew Gemmell and wife Emma Alice Gemmell, brother Will Gemmell all of Smithfield, NC, brother Zach Gemmell of Marion, Arkansas, and his grandchildren, Caroline Gemmell of Salisbury and Wren and Vann Sperry of Wilmington. He also leaves his companion Pat Mingin of the home.

Graveside Services will be held at Oleander Memorial Gardens at 1:30pm on Friday, July 15, 2022. Family and friends will gather in the Parish Hall at St. Andrews on-the-Sound Episcopal Church following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Disabled American Veterans, 4601 Park Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Arrangments are by www.coblegreenlawn.com