John McIntosh Geil

John McIntosh Geil died on July 27, 2011 surrounded by his friends and family. Born in Orange, Texas to Beatrice Doyle Geil and Arthur Herbert Geil, John spent his childhood living all over the world from Kinston, NC and The Hague, Netherlands to Wilmington, DE, collecting friends wherever he went.

John graduated from Woodberry Forest School in Orange, VA, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduating from college in 1969, he joined the United States Army Reserves where he was trained as an operating room technician. After completing basic training, John entered the University Of North Carolina School Of Law, earning his Juris Doctor in 1973.

John was a partner in the law firm Poyner, Geraghty, Hartsfield & Townsend in Raleigh, NC. In later years, he went into private practice, served on the North Carolina Charter School board of directors and was trained as a certified mediator. John always left time to focus on the things he loved – saltwater fishing, cooking, crossword puzzles, traveling the world, Carolina basketball and Phillies baseball. He had fun wherever he was.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice Doyle Geil and Arthur Herbert Geil, his nephew David Arthur Fitchett, and his companion of 12 years, Kathy Arnold Taft.

John is survived by his two beautiful daughters, the loves of his life, Ann Woodward Geil Godwin and Katherine Holland Geil Smyth, son-in-law Garrett Whitcomb Smyth, grandchildren John Matthew Godwin, Jr., Mary Holland Godwin, and Martha Bowles Godwin, sister Stephanie Geil Frederick, niece Caroline Friedell Fitchett, and many friends who loved him dearly. John was joyfully awaiting the arrival of his fourth grandchild, due in December of this year.

He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Carolina Country Club, the Terpsichorean Club, the Sphinx Club, Milburnie Fishing Club, Ducks Unlimited, Zeta Psi Fraternity and Gorgan’s Head Lodge. John opened his home to host the first auction to benefit Interact of Wake County in 1982, and was known to quietly and privately help friends and family in need throughout his life.

Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC on July 30, 2011 at 11:00am. Visitation will follow in the Jane Bell Gathering Space at White Memorial Presbyterian. There will be a private burial service at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC 27605, (919) 828-4311.