Dr. John Milton Gambill

Dr. John Milton Gambill, 92, passed peacefully on the morning of August 30 2016, after an extended decline in health.

He was born in Surry County in 1924 to Dr. Ira S. Gambill and Nancy Gentry Gambill. The third of four siblings, he was preceded in death by brothers Ira Samuel and William Gentry Gambill and sister, Nancy Carroll Gambill Aldridge.

Dr. Gambill was a graduate of Elkin High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following service in the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet during WWII, he studied Medicine at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.

His long career of medical service began in Kinston area of eastern North Carolina. He also served on the medical staff of the State Psychological Hospital in Morganton, North Carolina. He retired after a very successful tenure as the Medical Director of the Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in Greenville, North Carolina.

Following the death of his first wife, Betty Rouse Gambill, John was married to Jerry Gentry Gambill and they resided in Durham and Thurmond, NC. After Jerry’s passing, John married Holly Neaves McMillan Gambill, who survives him.

He is also survived by nephews, Gambill Aldridge (Amy Olinger Aldridge), William D. Aldridge (Wayne Fisher) and grand-niece Emma Grace Aldridge, and numerous stepchildren and nieces and nephews.

Doctor Gambill was a lifelong outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, gardening, and any hike or day trip with Holly. When watching sports he always cheered for Carolina. He delighted in sharing music with family and friends, often leading sing-alongs while he played the guitar. He was a colorful and entertaining storyteller. A man of deep faith, he was a devout member of First United Methodist Church of Elkin.

The family expresses its gratitude to the staff of Pruitt Health Care, Elkin and Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital for their care for Dr. Gambill during his time of need. An extra word of appreciation to Kenneth Stockton, whose daily time with Dr. Gambill greatly improved his quality of life.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that any memorials be made to Elkin Valley Trails Association, P.O. Box 91, Elkin, North Carolina, 28621 (elkinvalleytrails.org).

Services will be Sunday, September 4 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on Hawthorne Road in Elkin. Burial will follow at the Roaring Gap Baptist Church Cemetery in Thurmond.