Week of October 4, 2017
John Anthony Gastright, MD, passed away on September 23, 2017, at his home on Johns Island, SC, following a sudden illness. John was born July 25, 1942 in Dayton, KY to Thomas A. and Inez (Collins) Gastright.
John married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Jean Vance, in 1963, and they celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this year. He was the proud father of three children, Beverly O’Hearn (Steve), John Gastright, Jr. (Kendra) and Michael Gastright (Abigail Duval). John took great pleasure in teasing his grandchildren – Erin, Lauren and Stephen O’Hearn; John III, Amy and Thomas Gastright; Chelsie Skroback (Brian), Michael II (Aurora), and Sarah, as well as Abigail’s children Grayson, Reagan and Landon. John earned his BA from the University of Cincinnati, and his masters in Chemistry from Xavier University. He attended medical school at the University of Kentucky, and later completed a residency in internal medicine at MUSC. John -loved caring for his patients, most recently with West Ashley Family Medicine and earlier with the Wilson Clinic in Darlington, SC and Carolina Health Care in Florence, SC. He served in the US Navy as a Commander in the Navy Medical Corps. He was a past president of the American Heart Association, South Carolina affiliate.
John had diverse interests, including farming on his John Deere tractor, fishing on the “Faded Love,” flying his twin engine Duchess airplane, carpentry, scuba diving, models and model trains, reading and writing poetry. He was a student of great leaders, leadership and military history, and read every book he could on those subjects. John especially loved sailing and racing Lightnings with his wife Barbara and children as crew, racing in the Southeast Circuit. He was a charter member of the Charleston Lightning Fleet. He loved playing practical jokes and wrestling with his best friend Harvey McCormick. In recent years, he loved spending time on his back porch reading the Sunday New York times, watching movies and eating Barbara’s good cooking.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, John is survived by two sisters Mary Evans Muncie of Erlanger, KY and Mary Dovak of Louisville, KY; Terry and Tami Vance of Independence, KY and their five boys, their wives and children. He is predeceased by two brothers, Thomas A and Robert L. Gastright, and his in-laws Fran Vance and Ray Vance.
A memorial service was held Thursday, September 28, 2017 in J. HENRY STUHR, INC. WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3660 Glenn McConnell Parkway at 6 p.m. The family received friends for a celebration of John’s life immediately following the service. A private Inurnment will be held at a later date.
A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.
Robert Wayne “Bad Boy” Smothers Jr, age 37, died suddenly on September 23, 2017. A memorial service was held in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 27 at 7 p.m. The family received friends from 6 until 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home and other times at 409 White Magnolia Dr., Darlington.
Born September 15, 1980, Wayne is the son of Nancy Stokes Smothers and the late Robert Wayne Smothers. Wayne was affectionately called the “Gentle Giant”, partly because of his willingness to help others and partly because he never met a stranger. He enjoyed doing carpentry work, listening to music and singing, and at one time sang in the Darlington Young Singers. Wayne enjoyed the time he spent here on earth, and he lived his life to the fullest.
In addition to his mother of Darlington, he is survived by his fiancé, Brandie Weatherford Morris, his brother, James (Amber) Smothers, his niece, Londyn Smothers, an aunt, Beth (Leonard) Morse, all of Darlington, a special cousin, Grover “Bubba” Smothers of Raleigh, his best friend, Jason O’Neal and his faithful canine companion, Alley.
He was preceded in death by his father, Grandparents; Gladys and Grover Smothers, Pansy Stokes Gee and James Stokes; a special aunt, Sandra Stokes and a cousin, Clifford Smothers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any children’s charity of ones choosing.
A tribute page for Wayne is available online at www.belkfuneralhome.com.
