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John Gilbert Earhart

June 21, 1930 to April 19, 2021

John Gilbert Earhart, age 90, passed away of natural causes on the morning of April 19 ^th , 2021 at Trinity Place Retirement Community in Columbus, MS.

John, or "Buddy" as he was known to family, was born on June 21, 1930 to John T. and Ellene Earhart in Louisville, MS.  He grew up with a strong love of sports and the great outdoors, leading him to play football and baseball at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS in the early 1950s.  After college, John joined the Army serving during the Korean War. After two years of service he was honorably discharged due to a family illness which called him home to Louisville to care for his mother.  After her death, John worked with the Army Corp of Engineers with his father on the Possum Kingdom Levee in Texas.  While in Texas, his father met and later married, Vera Davenport, who became John's stepmother.

John later moved to Corinth, Mississippi, where he utilized his degree in education and proudly served on the coaching staff for the Corinth Warrior high school football and baseball teams.  While teaching and coaching there, he met the love of his life, Roberta Adams, the senior Drum Major for the Corinth High School Band.  After her graduation, John asked for her hand in marriage and they were married on April 26 ^th , 1958.  John and Robbie were married for 54 years before losing her battle to cancer in 2012.

In 1960, John became the Corinth Junior High School principal, and in 1964 embarked on a Sales career with World Book Encyclopedia selling door-to-door educational books.  He progressed in this career moving his family to Meridian, MS and finally relocating to Columbus, MS in 1968 as a Division Manager with World Book.  Columbus is where he called home and raised his family until his death.

He loved playing golf at Green Oaks Golf Club with his friends and enjoyed 25 plus years of hunting with his pals at Honey Lake Hunting Club in Macon.  John and his family were faithful members of the former St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and most recently, First Presbyterian Church in Columbus.

John was preceded in death by his father (John T.), mother Ellene, stepmother Vera, his sisters Jane and Nancy, and his loving wife Robbie.  He is survived by his sons - Gil (Sissy) of Olive Branch, MS, Josh (Stephanie) of Smyrna, GA, Adam (Priscilla) of Columbus, MS and grandchildren Matt (Kayla) of Severna Park, MD, Taylor (Morganne) of Memphis, TN, Parker (Bethany) of West Point, MS, John Dalton (JD) and Cai of Columbus.  He also had one great-grandson, John Thomas of Severna Park, MD.

Honorary Pallbearers will be his five grandsons and long-time friends, Jim Hunt, Jack Jones, and his former 1955 Corinth High School football team known as "The Elite Group".

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Columbus, MS or Trinity Sunday Fund, 230 Airline Road, Columbus, MS  39702.

The Earhart family is grateful for your love and prayers during this time of loss.  We invite you to visitation at First Presbyterian Church, 3202 Bluecutt Road in Columbus, MS at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 25 ^th followed by a Celebration of Life Service immediately following at 2:00 PM.