John Cobb

John P. Cobb passed away peacefully in Gainesville, Florida, on March 11, 2024, leaving in his wake a multitude of family members, friends, and colleagues who loved him dearly and will miss him greatly. Having reached the age of 93, John experienced an extraordinarily rich life. But, as he constantly reminded us, his greatest joy was his partnership in raising families along with two dynamic women, Heloise Cobb (Seaton) and Sandra Cobb (Swint), that included seven children: Toby, Miki, Jerry, Charlie, Liz, Robert, and Robin. In addition, two generations of grandchildren delighted in calling him “Daddy Jack,” and “Papa.” He was a devoted son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and father-in-law.

Born in Depression-era Natchez, Mississippi, John’s career was defined by two major paths. He joined the Air Force at the onset of the Korean War and proudly served his country for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. While in the Air Force he earned his B.A. degree from the University of Maryland. Following a brief stint in Arkansas state government following his military service, John entered the long-term care industry for two decades, retiring for good as a Vice-President with Centennial in Atlanta, Georgia.

Thanks to his military service, John’s worldly outlook was shaped by extensive travel and living in Europe and Southeast Asia. With a keen interest in history, he eagerly took advantage of his surroundings to drag Heloise and kids to exotic locales. Throughout his lifetime he energetically continued to develop new passions. With his move to Atlanta, he and Sandy became huge Braves fans, proudly displayed on his caps and sweatshirts. Although he liked to deny it, John adored the many dogs that came into his and Sandy’s life and his affection for them was obviously returned. He never passed on the opportunity to insert a bad pun into a conversation and relished the inevitable groans that followed. Blessed with a phenomenal memory John was the keeper of the family flame. His many engaging stories about himself and the rest of us were an oral history of our family. They reflect the fact that John was the epitome of a life well lived.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at McDonald’s Funeral home on March 28, located at 150 Sawnee Drive in Cumming, Georgia. The Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a Service at 12:00 p.m. This will be followed by a 3:00 p.m. ceremony at Georgia National Cemetery at 2025 Mount Carmel Church Lane in Canton, where he will be laid to rest with his beloved Sandy. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Old Soldier’s Home Foundation (https://www.toshf.org/) or Fur Babies Rescue (https://furbabiesrescue.org).