BUXTON –JohnAnthony Gillikin, 55, died Wednesday, June 4, 2008Chesapeake General Hospital. John Gillikin was born in Morehead CityN.C., and was the son of Delores Jennette Lewis of Buxtonand the late Elbert R. Gillikin of Cedar Island.
John wasraised on Hatteras Island and was a recipient of the Morehead-Cain Scholarshipafter graduating from Cape Hatteras High School in 1971. John was an avid sailor andwaterman. An accomplished actor, John loved life, loved to laugh, and was oftenthe star of the show, both on and off stage.
John wasretired from the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a veteran, having served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He was alsoretired from the U.S. National Park Service, where he enjoyed a long career asa Park Ranger. He was stationed at the Wright Brothers Monumentin Kitty Hawk and other posts along the Outer Banks, the U.S. Virgin IslandsNational Park and the Everglades National Park in Florida. John Gillikin was a nationally knownexpert on the Wright Brothers and the First Flight, appeared in severaldocumentaries, and was quoted in many publications on early aviation. He wasregarded by his peers as a world class ranger — interpreter, a first-ratehistorian, and a scholar.
He issurvived by his wife, Misty Brown Gillikin of the residence; his mother,Delores Jennette Lewis and husband, Terry Q. Lewis; sister, Elberta Gillikin;niece, Pam, and husband, Buddy Johnson and their children, Cameron and ChristaJohnson, all of Buxton; two grandchildren, Ryley and Xavier Brown of VirginiaBeach, Va., and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and “Buddy”his beloved Labrador retriever.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Buxton Methodist Church on Monday, June 9,at 2 p.m. with Rev. CoryOliver officiating. A viewing will be held and family and friends will bereceived at the Buxton Methodist Churchfrom 7 – 8:30 p.m. onSunday.
In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Employee andAlumni Association of the National Park Service at http://www.eandaa.org
Twiford’s IslandChapel, Hatteras is assisting the family with arrangements.Visit www.twifordfh.com to sign the online register.
