John W. Gilman

John W. Gilman 79 Realtor Lake Wales -Mr. John Wayne Gilman 79, formerly of Lakeland passed away Sunday, October 14, 2012 of heart failure. He was born on December 24, 1932 in Fort Madison, Iowa to the late Helen and George Gilman. The family moved to Lake Wales in the late 1940""s where he graduated from Lake Wales HS. John attended both Georgia Tech and Marquette Universities and married his high school sweetheart Joyce in 1953. In 1966 they relocated to the Lakeland area where he later became general manager for radio stations WONN and WPCV. In the early 1980""s John and his wife established Gilman Real Estate Company where he retired after 30 years. John holds several patents for real estate sign applications. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. His interests included the Lake Wales ""Class of 51"" reunions, tinkering with his clocks, listening to Big Band music and ""to keep everyone smiling"" at his most recent residence Water""s Edge of Lake Wales. John was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Joyce, in 2008. Survivors include his daughters Pamela Gilman Turner and her husband David of Lake Wales, Paulette Gilman DeGard and her husband Dan of Seattle, two grandchildren, Petty Officer 2nd Class Caleb DeGard (USCG) and his wife Kim, along with Hannah DeGard Hageman and her husband Craig and John""s sister Ruth Gilman . In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice, 320 West Main Street, Lakeland, FL 33815 or The First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 17th at 2pm at Heath Funeral Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the service. Service: 10/17/2012 Heath Funeral Chapel 328 South Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33801 Heath Funeral Chapel Visitation: 10/17/2012 Heath Funeral Chapel