of Little Rock, AR
October 12, 1925 - March 28, 2021
John Woodul Gann, Sr., passed away Sunday, March 28, 2021, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He formerly resided in England, Arkansas and was 95 years old. Born October 12, 1925, in Prescott, Arkansas, he was the son of late James Cleveland Gann and Julia Woodul Gann. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Eleanor Morris Gann.
Mr. Gann graduated from Catholic High in 1943; and following active military service in World War II, he graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1949. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Blue Key.
Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Gann enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 and served in the Eighth Air Force during World War II as a nose gunner/toggler on a B-17 aircraft of the 490th Bomb Group. He was stationed in eastern Great Britain and flew 29 combat missions followed by four mercy missions. He was awarded several commendations for his service including the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the European Theater Ribbon, three Battle Stars, and the Purple Heart.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas, Mr. Gann returned to Prescott and engaged in farming. He also continued his military service and was commissioned as a Captain and served as Company Commander of Company C of the 153rd Infantry Regiment of the Arkansas National Guard until 1958.
He married Eleanor Morris on December 27, 1953 and they moved to England, Arkansas in 1955, where he ran a successful insurance business and pursued his farming interests. He served as a President of the England School Board, Plum Bayou Levee District Board, England Little League Program and the England Hospital Association. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Citizen's Bank and Citizen's Realty Corporation. For a number of years, he managed the Federal Gin Company. Mr. Gann was an active member of the timber community and was awarded the Arkansas Tree Farmer of the Year in 1986. Mr. Gann was a member and served on the Board of Trustees of the First United Methodist Church in England, Arkansas and most recently attended the First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He is survived by three sons: James (Jim) Benton Gann of McNeil, Arkansas (Kathy); John (Jay) Woodul Gann, Jr. of Houston, Texas (Mary Howell); and George Houston Gann of Little Rock, Arkansas (Nancy); and six grandchildren including Jim's children, Benton James Gann and Carrie Lynn Gann: Jay's children, John Woodul Gann III, and Mary Howell Gann: and George's children, John Carmichael Gann and Lauren Elizabeth Gann.
A graveside service will be held for family at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021, at Tomberlin Cemetery in Coy, Arkansas with Reverend Grace Ellen Rice officiating.
In leu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, England, Arkansas; First Methodist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas; or the Arkansas Forestry Commission
I was saddened to read in the England Democrat last week of the passing of your father. It brought back a lot of good memories of both he and Eleanor. I know you miss them dearly, and Jim, Jay and George are in our prayers.
George and Nancy
I am so sorry for your loss. With lots of love and thanksgiving for Daddies.
My deepest condolences to the Family. I remember many happy times at First United Methodist Church in England and at other times as well with John and Eleanor as well as the boys. I will keep you in my prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
The Lock's
Mr. Gann was one of the nicest gentlemen I knew while in England. He was a very good friend to all who knew him. Always had a smile for everyone.
May you find peace in the days ahead and comfort in the memories of his life and love.
Sincerely,
Paula Axley Greenbaum
Our condolences on the passing of John. He was always a great friend to my father and our family. I have many wonderful memories, including learning to water ski with your dad driving the boat and offering instructions and some great
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing.
I have many memories of him growing up in England.
He was a man of honor and integrity, as well as a fine community leader.
My deepest sympathies to Jim, Jay, and George.
May God’s love and promise of eternity give you comfort at this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing.
I have many memories of him growing up in England.
He was a man of honor and integrity, as well as a fine community leader.
My deepest sympathies to Jim, Jay, and George.
May God’s love and promise of eternity give you comfort at this difficult time.
A great, great soul. He was a wonderful talker & thinker; he had a real sense of beauty and a sense of responsibility to history -- rare qualities in any age, but especially in this one.
He once showed me trees he had planted: red oaks, cherry-bark oaks, willow and water oaks. He watered them by hand.
"All lived," he told me, "but one."
May what he raised survive; may each tree grow to be as great as the man who planted them.
He was an honour to know: I will miss him.
John is the personification
George, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. He was a very nice man. I always enjoyed visiting with him when he came to get his prescriptions. Mike and I will be praying for you and your family during this difficult time.
Mr. George,
We are saddened to hear about your dad's passing. He was a special man and he will be missed. Prayers for your family.
Bubba, Cheryl, and Jared
John was a true inspiration to me and he will never be forgotten. So Sorry for your loss.
I am very sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts will be with you and your family.
George, I am so very sorry to hear of your dad's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
We are deeply saddened to hear of John's passing. He was one of the nicest people on the planet. Always kind and thoughtful, always a gentleman. He will always be remembered as a friend and patriot. His love for his family and his friends was unmatched. You were always better after a conversation with him! We are praying for his family and we will miss him as well. Bob and I always called him "Mr. Gann" even though he told us to call him John. We used Mr. because of the respect we had for him. May God comfort and keep his family.
The Swaim family has such fond memories of we are all thinking of the family with our thoughts and prayers.
Our deepest sympathies to John’s family and friends. He was a remarkably kind gentleman. He always smiled and talked proudly of his sons and grandchildren.
June and I are saddened to hear of the passing of John. He was a gentleman - a true Southern Gentleman - of the first order. John was a patriot and enjoyed talking about his service for our country. He was so proud of his family and spoke fondly about fishing with one of his grandsons. He was also excited about his "Tractor and Farm Implement" display at his farm near Coy. He was thrilled when we told him that we took two other friends that he knew from First Methodist Church to see his tractor display.
We know that John has now seen the face of GOD and is at his place in the dinner that has been prepared for him at the mansion in heaven. It was our pleasure to have known John and to be considered one of his friends. May he now Rest in Peace.
Dr. H. F. "Bunny and June Brown
We are so sorry to learn of Mr. Gann's passing. He was a dear and wonderful man. Thinking of you all and praying for peace and comfort.
The Swaim Family - Edward, Anna, James and John
I am sorry to hear of Mr. John’s passing.