John Bingham McKibbon, Jr.

John Bingham McKibbon, Jr. peacefully passed away October 29th, 2022. World War ll veteran, world traveler, hotel business mogul, and pilot (including barnstormer) are just a few ways you could describe John Bingham McKibbon, Jr. (Jack). But for most that knew him best, he was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Jack was born on February 10, 1924 in Newnan Georgia to the late John Bingham and Mary Virginia Bailey McKibbon. His family moved to Gainesville, GA when he was 4 and lived there through 1936 tornado. Jack graduated from Gainesville High School in 1941 and then attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega. In December 1942 he joined the Army Air Corp. He started active duty in 1943 at the age of 19. During World War II, he piloted 59 missions in a B-25 in the South Pacific. In 1951, during the Korean War, Jack was called back to active duty in the Air Force.  For 21 months he was stationed in Tampa, Florida, where he flew tanker aircraft. He worked for the Strategic Air Command, refueling B-47 and B-50 bombers. He continued to pilot private aircraft until he was 85 and in 2018, he was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.    After returning from the war, Jack married the woman of his dreams, Robbye Jean Price in 1952, and opened the Avion Restaurant and Motel in downtown Gainesville. During the early 50s, he ran the Mar-Jac poultry plant started by his father and uncle. After leasing several restaurants at various Holiday Inn hotels in Georgia, Jack built his own Holiday Inn in Gainesville, which opened in 1963. He later built and operated four additional Holiday Inns in Georgia. Jack served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Gainesville as it grew from a local bank to a major regional banking corporation and eventually merged with Regions Bank.    In his retirement, he could be found restoring old cars and boats at his warehouse, playing golf, reading countless books, traveling, hosting annual BLT parties in Gainesville and spending time with family. His restoration of antique cars included, but was not limited to, a Model T Ford, WWII command car, numerous vintage Rolls Royces, an amphibious car (which he called “a bad car and worse boat”) and a WWII Willys Jeep, which he and friends shipped to England where they attended the 50th anniversary of the DDay invasion. Philanthropy and civic duty were also extremely important to him. Whether supporting his church (First United Methodist), the local hospital, colleges, Kiwanis, or even volunteering his time to chauffeur newlyweds in one of his antique cars on their wedding days, he was always finding ways to give back to his community. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years Robbye, his sister Mary Virginia and her husband Richard Harris, and his daughter Dawn Ann. He is survived by his sons; John Bingham III (Letitia) and Steve Price (Gale) McKibbon, five grandchildren and their spouses; Mary Jennings (Dave Felipe), Elizabeth Bailey (Phil), Steve Price Jr. (Mina), John IV (Michele) and Ross (Francesca), and five great grandchildren; Eliza, Jack V, Teddy, Karmen, and Hazel.    Jack often said, “Getting old ain’t for sissies” and at a strong 98 years old, he was living proof of that. There will be a private family service. In lieu of condolences, donations can be made to The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame and Elachee Nature Science Center.