John Dean Gilpin, of Houston, passed away on Saturday, the 17th of November. He was 84 years of age. He was born the 23rd of June 1934, in Madisonville, TX. He was christened John Wesley Gilpin, Jr., but his name was later changed to John Dean in memory of his recently deceased uncle, Carey Dean Gilpin. John grew up in Conroe, Thorndale, Cameron and Iola Texas. His father, John Wesley Gilpin, served in the various school systems as a principal or superintendent of schools. John Dean lived in Iola, Texas on his family’s ranch until he began college at Sam Houston State University in 1951 where he earned a B.B.A in 1955.
Upon graduation from Sam Houston, John attended the University of Texas Law School, earning his LL.B. in 1959. John trained in military intelligence and served the U.S. Army from 1958 – 1970 in an active and reserve capacity. Upon passing the bar, John joined the law firm of Fulbright and Crooker – later Fulbright and Jaworski. As an associate, he helped litigate insurance defense cases, then rose through the ranks to partner as a defense lawyer on automobile liability cases. In 1979, John helped to form the law firm Payne, Gilpin, Maynard and Parsons, which later became Gilpin, Maynard, Parsons, Pohl and Bennett and Gilpin, Paxson and Bersch. Mr. Gilpin enjoyed many years as a successful defense attorney on behalf of many automobile companies including Volkswagen, Volvo, Ford, and Jeep. Later in his legal career, he served of counsel at Thompson, Coe, Cousins and Irons, LLC.
John is survived by his dear and loving wife of 32 years, JoAnn; his children John Wesley Gilpin II (Kelley), Amanda Gilpin Upshaw (James), and Carey Dean Gilpin (Diahn); his grandchildren William Scott Gilpin, Richard Dean Gilpin, Katherine Evalyn Gilpin, John Wesley Gilpin III, Charles Bell Upshaw IV, Lillian Grace Gilpin and Larry Nathaniel Gilpin. In addition to his wife and children, John is survived by his precious sister GeorgeAnn Dirks and her children JeanAnn Dirks, Kay Kamas, and Lisa Dirks. John was predeceased by his brother in law, James L. Dirks and nephew, Lee Dirks as well as JoAnn’s daughter Kellie Maureen Daly. Also surviving him are JoAnn’s children whom he loved: Rebecca Renee Peel (Jeffrey), Wayne Peel, Sharon Daly Scanlin, and Timothy Patrick Daly.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 19th of November, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 20th of November, in the Hankamer Chapel at Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston.
The family will gather for a private interment at Zion Cemetery in Iola, Texas.
Those honored to serve as casket bearers are, William Scott Gilpin, Richard Dean Gilpin, John Wesley Gilpin III, Carey Dean Gilpin, Charles Bell Upshaw IV and James Andrew Upshaw, MD.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contribution may be directed to Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas 77057.
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