John Daryl Gaddis

John Daryl Gaddis, 61, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away on June 19, 2024, at home, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Stuart, Florida, John spent his childhood in Florida, Maine, and Connecticut. He was preceded in death by his father, Phillip “Sonny” Gaddis, Jr., of Calais, Maine.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Diane, with whom he shared nearly 42 years together. He is also survived by his children: Justin Gaddis and his wife Jennie, Shelby Gaddis and her husband Jake, and one cherished grandchild. Additionally, John is survived by his mother, Nadine Webb and her husband Richard, his brother, Mike Gaddis and his wife Darlene, and his faithful Golden Retriever, Mason, who was his loyal companion for almost 8 years.

John joined the Air Force at the age of 17, serving in airfield construction. After serving his country, he went on to spend his early adult years working in the civilian construction industry, with his brother serving as his mentor. John would later pursue higher education in computer-aided design, discovering a passion and talent in the field of computer networking and engineering. He earned Microsoft Network Engineering certifications and became a Novell NetWare Engineer in 1995. His expertise led him to senior network engineer roles, ultimately joining a growing company in the emerging microwave wireless industry. John became known for his ability to fearlessly climb high radio towers while using his technical knowledge to install networking equipment, providing connectivity for rural hospitals and Native American communities.

John had many interests, including drawing and photography. In his later years, John became a passionate gun enthusiast and enjoyed competitive shooting, training new gun owners, and creating custom leather holsters. He spent much of his free time with Mason and his devoted wife, Diane. John had a profound love for dogs and most other animals. Whenever possible, John enjoyed watching the works of Monty Python, Mel Brooks, and the classic Carol Burnett shows.

John will be remembered by friends and family for his love of learning, his odd personality, and his ability to talking to anyone about almost anything.

John Daryl Gaddis will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.