John Leland Skinkle

John Leland Skinkle, age 74 of Clarkesville, passed away Monday, March 13, 2023.

Born in Neptune, New Jersey on June 16, 1948, John was the son of the late W. Herbert and Elizabeth Graham Skinkle.  As a small child, John moved with his family to New Zealand to be closer to his mother’s family.  While there, John would attend kindergarten and  his family later returned to the states.  Following a brief residence in California, his family settled in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.  After graduating from high school in 1966, John attended Monmouth College.  He took a break from his education to enlist in the United States Air Force.  An enlistment assignment would take him to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida where he would meet the love of his life, Linda Faye Kennedy, at First Baptist Church of Panama City.  John would later complete his Associate in Arts degree at Gulf Coast Community College, his Bachelor of Arts degree at Florida State University, and his Master of Science from the School of Library Science at Florida State University. John retired as the Assistant Director for the Northeast Georgia Regional Library System. 

John loved to read, eat and laugh, and he was always up for an adventure with his family.  John enjoyed photography and was an avid knife collector.  More recently, he developed an interest in whittling and carving wood.  John was quite a jokester and was always having a good time.  He was a devoted Florida State Seminoles fan who loved to travel, and enjoyed spending time at the beach.  He adored his family, especially his grandchildren.  John was a man of extreme faith and had the heart of a servant.  He was a member of Level Grove Baptist Church, a place that he loved deeply.

In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by brothers in law Grady Brooks and Jimmy Lawing, and sister in law and brother in law Betty and Tip Weldon.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Linda Kennedy Skinkle, son and daughter in law Lee and Amanda Skinkle of Gainesville, daughter and son in law Laurie and Dennis Gallman of Demorest, grandchildren Johnathan Skinkle, Tori Skinkle, Marley Gallman and Mason Gallman, and granddogs Baxter and Dabo.  In addition, he is survived by sisters in law Mona Brooks of Clarkesville, Carla Lawing of Taylorsville, North Carolina and Nancy Kennedy of Clayton, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, close friends, and extended family in New Zealand.  

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Dr. Brian James and Rev. Walter Singletary, officiating. Interment will follow the service in Yonah Memorial Gardens with military honors by the Grant Reeves Honor Guard.   The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. 

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Level Grove Baptist Church, PO Box 416, Cornelia, GA 30531.

An online guest book is available for the Skinkle family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com  .

Arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256