John Elbert Thombleson, age 92, was called home peacefully by his Lord and Savior on June 11, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida. John was born and raised in Edwardsport, Indiana to the late Joseph Edward and Elberta Dale (West) Thombleson on August 23, 1927. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Rosemary (Ballow) Thombleson, on August 14, 1949.

He graduated from Bicknell High School in 1946, attended and graduated from Florida State University, with his Bachelor of Education and graduated from Austin Peay University with his MBA. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was in the Koran War. John was an educator and retired after 32 year of service with the Duval County School District, he was a coach at Arlington Middle, Dean of Boys and Assistance Principal at Sandalwood, and Principal at Landon Middle and Edward H. White.

John was an athlete in his younger years and when he attended FSU, it was the first year it was co-ed, he always said that he was an "Original Seminole". He played football there under a scholarship and was one of their first quarterbacks, but also played other positions. In addition, he participated on the track and field and basketball teams. John loved camping, hiking, and biking; he was also an avid golfer. He loved watching football especially the FSU Seminoles. John loved his family very deeply. He was a devoted husband, wonderful, caring father and beloved granddad. When he retired from the District him and his wife, Rosemary, moved to the mountains of West Virginia. They cherished the years together up in WV and their beautiful mountain home. John and Rosemary lived a blessed life and were married 70 years.

John was the fifth youngest of 11 children and is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosemary (Ballow) Thombleson, his parents, his siblings, Willis Edwards, Mary Perucca, Josephine Breeden, Betty Miles, Marjorie Ellard, James Thombleson, Carl Thombleson, Richard Thombleson, and Linda Schultz; and his oldest son, John (Johnny) Elbert Thombleson II. He is survived by his son Jay Edward Thombleson, his daughter, Jennifer Ellen (Thombleson) Reid, his grandchildren: Kalie Danielle Reid, Rachel Malia (Thombleson) Stegman (husband Drew), Leah Kehaulani (Thombleson) DeMoulin (husband Brad), sister, Lula Bell Salters; and great granddaughter Victoria Rose Stegman.

We will have a visitation on Sunday evening, June 21, 2020, from 5-7pm at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205. The funeral service will be held at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home on Monday morning, June 22, 2020, at 10:00am, with Pastor George Spencer of Crossroad UM Church officiating, with a reception immediately following the service. Interment with military honors at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida at 1:30pm.

For the safety of everyone attending, we ask that you maintain social distancing and the use of masks as we are following the CDC guidelines and Jacksonville National Cemetery request. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please leave words of comfort and condolences for the family on our online guest register at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com