John Ewing Quicksall

John Ewing Quicksall, 74, passed away February 3, 2017 at Bay Pines VA Hospital. John, a resident of Gulfport, born in St. Petersburg, was the third generation of Pinellas county's pioneers. He was predeceased by his parents Dr. John Braden Quicksall and Frances Marian Ewing Quicksall and grandparents Dr. William Edward Quicksall and Florence Braden Quicksall and Mabel Stokes Ewing all of Old St. Petersburg. Doctors William E. Quicksall and J. Braden Quicksall were in a medical practice together in St. Petersburg. Mabel Ewing moved to Pass-a-Grille with her 9 year old daughter, Frances Ewing, in 1918 after the death of her husband, Dr. Francis Marion Ewing of Lincoln, IL. Francis Ewing was a french teacher in a private school in St. Petersburg and taught Babe Ruth's daughter when they were in town. John graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1960. He attended University of Florida and graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach FL with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He served in the Navy from 1966-1970 during the Vietnam Conflict and retired from Delta Airlines as a flight Captain after 30 years of service. He had a lifelong passion for airplanes and flying. He flew around the world and taught flying for Delta based in Atlanta. In the Navy, he flew as navigator into hurricanes to take wind measurements. He was an avid bicyclist and rode every Saturday with friends and was a former member of St. Petersburg Bicycle Club. On the day before his death, he rode his bicycle from the Chattaway Restaurant to Munch's Restaurant, where he ate breakfast with Bob Lindberg, Dr. David Hill and 3 other friends. When he was a young man, he rode his bicycle from Marietta, GA to Miami, FL in five days. He was a mathematician who enjoyed solving math problems. He attributed his love of math to his favorite teacher Mrs. Hancy of St. Pete High School. He was a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. He is survived by his companion and caregiver, Dolores Kania, son, John Jacob Quicksall (Jenny) of Thousand Oaks CA, two granddaughters Abby Joy and Allie Lynn Quicksall, daughter, Elizabeth "Betsy" Marie Quicksall Rowe (Matti) of Boulder, CO awaiting the birth of his third granddaughter. He is predeceased by his brother, James Montgomery Quicksall, survived by his brother, Edward Stokes Quicksall (Mary) of Ponte Vedra Beach and sisters Elin Quicksall Fowler Mullins (Patrick) of Marietta, GA and Anna Maria Island, and Marian Elizabeth "Maribeth" Quicksall Brannen (Bill) of Alpharetta, GA; as well as nieces and nephews around the country. He was loved and will be missed. Interment and a memorial service will be held for family and friends in May at Bay Pines National Cemetery.