John Thomas Gharib

John Thomas Gharib was born on March 25, 1922 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was the only child to his Armenian parents Tomas and Falem Gharib. He grew up playing on the banks of the Tigris River with his cousins.

After high school and technical school, he served with the British Army as an interpreter in their security forces during World War II. He later joined the United Nations and served with the UN forces in Pusan, Korea as a supply officer during the Korean War. While in Pusan, an American Colonel introduced John to Doris Melcher, a civilian working for the US Navy. They fell in love and married in Pusan in August,1953 then embarked as passengers on a cargo freighter for a month long honeymoon cruise that took them from Japan throughout Asia disembarking in Beruit, Lebanon. After a month in Beruit they boarded a ship to Newprt News, Virginia. They purchased a beautiful new 1954 turquoise-and-white Chevy Bel Air. They then applied for driver's licenses (John passed, Doris did not). Off they drove across the country to San Diego where they settled for the rest of their lives!

John became a US citiozen in 1959. He worked for Rainbow Pools until he started his own business in 1960 John and Doris operated Swim Service Company, serving commercial and residental pool customers all over San Diego County for 35 years. He served as President of the IPSSA pool industry group for several years and was well known in the pool industry.

John has always been known as a consummate gentleman. He was famous among family and friends for his quick wit, punny incantations and easy going nature. He shared his passion for fishing and boating with friends and family, teaching 3 generations the sport. He fished Alaska to Cabo and Florida but mostly San Diego saltwater as well as the local lakes for trout and bass. In retirement he and Doris travelled and gardened together. He lost Doris to cancer in 2005, but is survived by his daughter Lilyan Flaherty and sons Thomas Gharib and James Gharib, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Services will be held December 4, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow immediately at Singing Hills Memorial Park. A Celebration of Life will follow the graveside service at the Elks Lodge #1812 in El Cajon.