John Dexter Gillespie

John Dexter Gillespie, 92, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away May 20th, 2015. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, May 27th at 1 p.m. at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection - Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe, Leawood, Kan. Burial to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to Brookdale Hospice or the SilverLink Ministry of The Church of the Resurrection. John was born January 28, 1923, in Bearden, Ark., the son of Charles and Nell Gillespie. He grew up in Camden, Ark. He married Martha Lee Rasmussen of Scarsdale, N.Y., in 1943. Mr. Gillespie served the Army Air Force during W.W. II in the European Theatre as a First Lt. Navigator and Aerial Photographic Officer. He received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. in 1947. His working career began in Rochester, N.Y. Employment with Graflex and his long tenure with Eastman Kodak led to extensive overseas travel. The family lived 27 months in the Philippines and then moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where John served 5 years as General Manager Kodak Brasilero before returning to Rochester as General Manager of the Latin American Marketing Division until his retirement in 1980. John and his wife Marty made their home in Bella Vista and Rogers, Ark. after retirement and spent their later years near family in Leawood, Kan. Wherever he lived, Mr. Gillespie was active in his church. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, in Leawood at the time of his death. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Juanita Biggers, brother Joe Gillespie, and Marty Gillespie, his wife of 66 years. He is survived by his sister, Charlie Wilson, of Hope, Ark., three children, Nell Riechers (Harry) of Mexico, Mo., Nancie Dischinger, (Mark) of Leawood, Kan., and Rev. Dr. John Gillespie, Jr. (Tessa) of Overland Park, Kan. Other blessings include two nieces, three nephews, 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Condolences maybe left at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arrangements: McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Rd., KCMO 64145. (816) 942-6180.