John Edington Gilbreath

John E. Gilbreath II, age 80, of South Knoxville went home to Heaven, peacefully where his loved ones were waiting, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Sacred Ground Hospice House. Originally from Morristown but raised in Kingsport TN, graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School and the University of Tennessee. Member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church. He worked for the Knox County Health Department as an environmentalist before he began his teaching career at Halls Middle School in Knox County before taking a teaching position at South Doyle High School for twenty-three years as an English teacher. Following his retirement from Knox County Schools, he went back to the Knox County Health Department and retired after five years. John was a loving and cherished husband, who enjoyed being an artist, published composer, poet, singer, musician, photographer, and interpreter at the Farragut Hotel International Visitor Center. He is preceded in death by parents, Sidney and Anna Branch Gilbreath Jr.; first wife, Barbara Gilbreath; sisters, Anna Speiser and Louise Robinson; nieces, Harriett Robinson Gillock and Laura Gilbreath Joyce. He is survived by loving wife of 37 years Betty (Rowland) Gilbreath; brother, Sid Gilbreath III and wife Pat; nephews, Bob Gilbreath and Gordon Gilbreath, and several great nieces and great nephews. Special thanks to Sacred Ground Hospice House for their excellent and loving care of John. Also, to Amedysis Hospice nurses and CNA's for their special and compassionate care. The family will receive friends 2:00-3:00pm Sunday, March 27, 2022 at Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, 6321 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, TN 37920, followed by a Celebration of Life, Rev. Rhonda Hobbs officiating. Interment will be private. The family ask that memorials be made to Sacred Ground Hospice House 1120 Dry Gap Pike Knoxville, TN 37918. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mynattfh.com