John Derby

John was born on Monday November 25, 1946 in Fulton, New York at Lee Memorial Hospital. He was the youngest of three sons born to Charles Augustus Gaskill Derby and Marjorie Florence (Tirrell) Derby. His mother was so sure he would be a girl they had no name picked out for him. His oldest brother, Fred, wanted to name him Joey but they settled on John. His father was concerned about the size of his head at birth but the Doctor assured him it was a sign he would grow to be a tall man. At 6’ 4” he lived up to that prediction. In 1950 they traded the snowy winters of New England for the sunny shores of North Miami Beach and a job opportunity for his Dad. It was quite the adjustment. They lived in a small stucco house on 181st Street in a vibrant middle-class neighborhood full of families and school age children. He attended Fulford Elementary School and, after a move to Tallahassee in 1955, they settled in Indian Head Acres. He attended Kate Sullivan Elementary for one year and Florida High School for the duration of his schooling where he lettered in baseball and basketball. Under Coach Bob Albertson the 1963 FHS Demon’s basketball team won the State Championship. He played baseball throughout his childhood (Little League, American Legion, etc) and in his junior and senior year at Florida High he was the team pitcher. He played the drums in the band. In 1963 he was the escort for the Florida High School Homecoming Queen. In 1964 his parents bought an old WWII Army barracks on Alligator Point and made it into a two bedroom/one bath vacation home with a screened in back porch where much time was spent water skiing, boating and fishing. John was tall and lanky in high school. As a Florida High baseball player he was scouted by the LA Dodgers but couldn’t put on enough weight. A lot of interest and correspondence went back and forth with Harry Hancock “Ted” McGrew, the scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After graduating High School in 1964 he attended North Florida Junior College before enlisting in the U. S. Air Force. He was stationed at Eglin AFB and was a Viet Nam veteran.

He was employed by the State of Florida Treasury Department and the Department of Insurance as a program administrator until retirement. After retirement, and to stay busy, John took courses in personal training, joined the YMCA and began helping others achieve personal fitness goals. He enjoyed fishing, landscaping, everything sports-especially baseball- and traveling. He and Gloria took numerous trips around the country and Europe until he began to suffer ill health due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Viet Nam.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria, and his children Stacy Backman, Trisha (Lee) Carter and Jonathan (Sladana) Derby. He was a devoted father never missing a band concert, a play, Taekwondo or any event that his children participated in. He loved the game of baseball and relived his high school years watching Jonathan play baseball all the way up through college. He was called Pee-Paw by his seven grandchildren whom he adored: Megan and Heather Backman, Landon, Addison and Easton Carter and Nikolaj and Milo Derby. He is also survived by his brother Robert (Bobby) Derby and one great-grandchild, Weston. He was predeceased by his parents and oldest brother Fred Derby.

John was saved and professed his public declaration of faith and obedience to the Lord through baptism on September 19, 2010 and became a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. He left his earthly life on Monday May 18th, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family. A man of great stature, he made friends easily. He had a ready smile, a great sense of humor and a quick wit. John was a faithful and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, on May 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, on May 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm.