The Mortuary Arts by John Gregory Hancock

Jack was a rare and very special person highly intelligent, having been 'double- promoted' twice in high school and passing the exam to become a pilot without a college degree. He never met a stranger and loved many, most of all, the Lord Jesus, having written poems, journals, and entries of faith on the pages of the many spiritual books he read. His love for the outdoors was evident by all the tales of adventures he told over decades of hunting, fishing, foraging for wild flowers, mushrooms, and fruits. Jack was always a happy, exuberant soul and had many friends. Also, there are numerous nieces & nephews. In addition Jack leaves seven great-grandchildren: Macy, Morgan & Cooper Manning, Johnny, V & Virginia Beard, & Katelyn & Keith Reed. (Beard) Reed, (husband Christopher) and Dr. Jack also leaves to cherish his memory, five grandchildren: Holly R. Jack was father to three children daughter Barbara (Manning), husband Bob, of Grant, Minnesota, son John G., III, wife Anita, of Greensboro, North Carolina, daughter Robin (Brown), husband David, of Knoxville, Tennessee, twin sisters-in-law, Joan (Givens), deceased, and June (Givens) Mynhier, husband Bob, of Kingsport, Tennessee. Jack worked in the investment business, was a Paul Harris Fellow, past District Governor and President of Beckley Rotary Club. He was captured & spent six months in Barth, Germany, Prison of War Camp until the war ended & he returned home to his wife & family. Jack completed thirty-four successful missions before having to bail out of his plane.

Jack's flight group set a new Mediterranean record for enemy planes destroyed in a 30-day period by knocking 103 enemy planes out of the air while losing only three of their own. and a P-51 fighter pilot, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters & promotion, first to deputy flight leader, then flight leader. veteran, Jack was Captain of Army Air Corp.

Beard, all preceded him in death.Īs a WWII, P.O.W. His sister Alice (Whitner) Massey, and brothers, Joe W. Jack was the second of four children to John G. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Sugar (Givens) Beard, on November 6, 2008. Beard was born December 4, 1919, in Hightown, Virginia, and was in his 97th year. was cleared for takeoff on April 27, 2017, after a short battle with cancer.

The Mortuary Arts by John Gregory Hancock