Johnny Gilbert Packett

Johnny (Gilbert) Packett passed away peacefully on August 1st, 2022 at The Cypress of Raleigh.  He was 93 years old.  Gilbert was born in Marion, NC on May 22nd, 1929 and grew up in Marion and Spring Creek.  He attended High School in Marion where he was a highly recruited wide receiver and track star, winning the state title and holding the state record in the discus and also running the fastest time of the day in the 100-yard dash.  He excelled in one year of football at Western Carolina University before deciding that college was not his forte.

  He enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 and became an aircraft instrument specialist, spending his next 20 years living and traveling throughout the world.  He married his high school sweetheart Patsy (Pat) Teague on Dec 18th 1955 and had two children, Janet and Mitch. He retired from the Air Force in 1971 and moved the family back to Marion and opened a furniture store with his brother. He invested in properties and managed and maintained them for the next 32 years spending his free time playing golf, enjoying the outdoors, socializing with a great group of friends and traveling the world with Pat, family and many friends.

He and Pat moved to Raleigh in 2003 to be near their grandchildren where they were involved members of Wake Forest Baptist Church where Mitch and his family attended.  They made many new wonderful friends there and stayed involved as long as they were able.  He was predeceased by his parents, Johnny and Carrie Packett, sister Agnes (Packett) Misch, brothers, Col (Ret) Wilbern Packett, and Elmer Packett. 

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Patricia Packett,  His children, daughter Janet Packett of Raleigh, NC, son Mitch, and wife Anne Packett of Wake Forest, NC, grandson Ryan and wife Kathryn Packett (great-granddaughter, Olivia) of Winston-Salem, NC and granddaughter, Capt. (Dr.) Ashley Packett of Washington DC.  He left a legacy of service to our country as one of all four siblings in the 2nd of four straight generations to serve in the US military. 

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at Wake Forest Baptist Church at 2PM with full Military Honors. Burial will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Wake Forest Baptist Church Music Department 107 South Avenue Wake Forest, NC 27587.

A Service of Bright Funeral Home and Cremation Center 919-556-5811

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