McGill Click Funerals & Cremations
John Theobald was born the second son of a Catholic Mother and a Jewish Father, something that could probably only happen in NYC. John grew up cheering for Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers, partly for the story, but more likely due to his brother's love for the Giants. Johnny's life may have begun in NYC, but it was Upstate NY that allowed him to develop as a delinquent or a young adult, depending on the story. Spending time with his brother, Ed, and friends, they often tried to top their father's athleticism. It's hard to imagine that a town on the Finger Lakes could provide so much summertime excitement in skiing and swimming in the crystal-clear, frigid waters and digging up the neighbor's patio to find the perfect nightcrawlers for fishing. Even the dark winter months had appeal, when walking home from school with snow sparkling under streetlamps was an unexpected reward for being kept late at school detention. The time in Skaneateles was as idyllic as any Hallmark movie that had been hijacked by two brothers always finding their way into more mischief or adventure than the small town could take. Despite not having the credits needed to graduate on time, his classmates named him Best Personality of the senior class. The day young Johnny joined the Air Force, 17 Jordan St. finally became the same quiet lane it had been 15 years earlier, as only his sister, Martha, and parents Jerome and Beatrice remained. As Johnny headed off to serve his country, the Air Force shipped him to the Gulf Coast to spend the next four years in the metropolis of Biloxi, MS. It didn't take long for him to learn the best spots to cast net for shrimp or the quickest way to New Orleans. And by December 25th as he fished off the beach, he knew he would never go back north again. While there he got his GED and honed his skills in heavy ground radar maintenance during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and callups of reserves during Berlin conflicts. It was also there that his athleticism found an outlet in volleyball, and he competed as an elite member of his Air Force team. Volleyball followed him late in life, taking him to senior national competitions around the country. The vertical leap and swoosh of his spike were sights and sounds that made his kids particularly proud. His indoctrination into the south continued as he fully embraced this part of the world. It had such an impact on him that he spent several months helping to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. After his four years of service, north on 49 John went to the University of Southern Mississippi where in 1965, after two short years, he received his bachelor's degree in special education. Although his time there was brief, he was significantly impacted and inspired by those whom he met and learned from at Southern. He and his wife Jean later gave back to the university by funding a four-year scholarship which will in perpetuity provide opportunity to those who might not otherwise have the means or encouragement to pursue higher education. From Hattiesburg, John was recruited by Peabody Vanderbilt to pursue a master's degree in special education in Nashville, which he received in 1967. Then in 1974, the kid with a GED received his doctoral degree in Education Administration from the University of Tennessee, a fact this humble man rarely shared with others. His self-professed love of his life, Jean Snow, agreed to marry him 54+ years ago. These two could be classified as misplaced hippies, too old to go to Woodstock and too young to settle for the norm, so they made do with their Organic Farmer subscription and ever-growing homestead. Outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists, together they enjoyed all that the natural world has to offer; backpacking, whitewater canoe racing, camping, water skiing, and constantly restoring and beautifying their natural surroundings. John never had formal construction training, but with a perfectionist mindset and the confidence that he could do anything he set his mind to, he taught himself enough to build the family's home on top of Bays Mountain in the Romeo community of Greene County, TN. He was so smart he talked his friends into installing the shingles on a steep-pitched roof with a 100ft drop-off down the top of the ridge. The happy couple had two children, Lenny and Elizabeth, whom they convinced that being miles from town was a blessing. Together with a host of beloved dogs, they cared for and were captivated by the woods, deer, turkeys, raccoons, snakes, wildflowers, dew-covered cobwebs, blue ghost lightning bugs, the seasonal grandeur of fall colors, and the mountains painted by snow and frost in winter. A renaissance man, John was as comfortable in the board room or surrounded by academic elites as he was on the seat of his 1953 Ford tractor. He could often be found grading and engineering sustainable gravel roads, bush hogging trails, swinging a hammer, running a chainsaw, or creating works of art through his woodworking endeavors. A lover of all forms of music, he grew up with Buddy Holly and The Beach Boys, but later found connection to bluegrass music. With the benefit of instruction from Norman Blake, the sound of John strumming on a mandolin brought a smile to those who have heard him play. John loved people and was committed to supporting and improving the lives of his fellow human beings at all walks of life. This was demonstrated in his work with teens and adults with mental and physical disabilities, in his philanthropic endeavors, his service on boards and committees such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Rotary, Red Cross, and in support of his church's missions. Jean, Lenny, and Elizabeth were there to see it all: his commitment to Jesus, his pride in his grandchildren (Ryan, Hazel, William, and his namesake Theo), the overwhelming love he had for this earth and his fellow man, and his constant pursuit of numerous hobbies, several of which took multiple fingers! John was his own man, endearing himself to the south and every person who was lucky enough to have known him, pursing the things he had passion for; and in the end, he somehow ended up a Protestant. Services honoring and remembering John Theobald will be held 5:00 PM Sunday, October 6th with Dr. Tony Collins and Rev. Randall Wright officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Loudon United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 342, Loudon, TN 37774. The family will receive friends 3:30-5:00 PM Sunday prior to the service at Loudon United Methodist Church, 509 Mulberry St. McGill Click Funerals & Cremations, 1366 Highway 72 N, Loudon, TN. Online Condolences: www.mcgillclick.com
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