John William Proctor

Proctor, John William

John William Proctor, 91, passed away on Friday May 10, 2013 in Cartersville, GA. He was born on November 7, 1921 in Rome, GA, the oldest son of Henry and Lucy Proctor. He was preceded in death by wives Maxine Rose Proctor and Linda Gilleland Proctor, brother Max Doyle Proctor, Sr. and sister, Mary Proctor Braden.

John is survived by his wife Dorothy Johnson Proctor, daughters Ellen (Buddy) Keene, Rome, GA, Pam (David) Corriher , Cartersville, GA, Melinda (Laing) Heidt, Marietta, GA, stepsons Anthony Gilleland, David Gilleland, Chris Proctor, Scott Stevenson; nephews Dr. Max Proctor and Chris Proctor, and grandchildren Brent (Kristen) Keene, Whitney (Andrew) Whittington, Kaitlin Heidt, Mattie Heidt and great-grandchild, Annie Rose Whittington.

John William was a child of the Depression. This time in history left an indelible impression on his life both in his attitude and work ethic. He was proponent of hard work and self-sufficiency. He attended Berry School in Rome, GA, when it was a boys school and proudly extolled its vital role in providing an education and molding the youth of this era. He affectionately referred to Berry as the “Poor Man’s School” as students could literally work as a means to attend. Berry School would prove to be not only an important role in his youth, but also play a pivotal role in the rest of his adult life.

One of the Berry instructors noticed John to not only be hard working but “clean, neat and thorough” in his daily chores. The instructor promptly had him report to the kitchen. He learned to cook and manage a kitchen, skills that later would be put to use feeding hungry G.I’s in World War II.

While overseas serving in an anti-aircraft battery, he commented that he could cook better meals. Soon, he was running the tightest field kitchen in the European Theater. He proudly told that, with the help of some engineers, they outfitted a deuce and a half truck that could be driven close to the front lines and quickly set-up to “provide hot meals to the troops in the thick of the fight”. “Officers and rear-echelon went to the back of the line”, he would say with a grin.

This same can-do attitude followed him home from war where he enrolled in the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. After graduating in 1948 he set up practice in Rome, GA, and practiced for the next 63 years in various cities in Northwest Georgia, the last seven years in Cartersville. He was an innovator in his field using local radio to promote Chiropractic and became widely known for his sign-off to “Get that happy healthy feeling!”

He was wholly devoted to Chiropractic. Such was his staunch belief in Chiropractic that he influenced many young people to pursue Chiropractic as a career including two son-in-laws and two nephews.

In 2010, he was honored by his fellow practitioners for his career and long-time support of Chiropractic. He reluctantly retired from practice in August 2011.

He was a member of the Optimist Club and, no doubt owing to his skills learned in the Berry School kitchen, launched their long-running Pancake Breakfast fundraiser over 50 years ago.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Berry College Office of Advance ment P.O. Box 69 Mt. Berry, GA 30149 or the Georgia Chiropractic Association 1925 Northlake Parkway Suite 201 Tucker, GA 30084.

Visitation will be Monday from 5:00-7:00 PM May 13, 2013 at Owen Funeral Home in Cartersville, GA. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 AM at Owen Funeral Home and internment at East View Cemetery in Rome, GA.