John Vincent Doyle

October 31, 1922 - March 7, 2018

JOHN V. DOYLE John Vincent Doyle died happily at 95 on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at his residence in the Willow Grove Retirement Community. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois October 31, 1922, to the late Mary Elizabeth Meyers and John Frederick Doyle. He was the middle child of seven siblings, two of whom survive: Joseph Patrick Doyle and Sister Mary Ellen Doyle. Predeceased are siblings Mary Frances, Frederick Joseph, Margaret Mary and Mary Theresa. John graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1940, then went to St. Charles College, a Catholic seminary in Catonsville, MD. He left the seminary in 1942 to join the U.S. Coast Guard where he served in New York City port security throughout WW II. On February 10, 1945, John married Frances Gabrielle Jiranek in Hollis, NY. Frances died at age 92 on June 16, 2013. Three children survive: Kathleen Mundle and husband George, Virginia Edelen and husband Bill and Shannon Doyle , predeceased by spouse Mary. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Jenefer Childers (nee Edelen) and husband Gary, John Edelen and wife Alia, Deanna Desmond (nee Doyle) and husband Connor. John also has three great grandchildren, Andrew Steven Bryant, William Nicholas and Noah Edelen. During and following the war, John continued his education with courses in marketing and advertising at International Correspondence Schools, Northwestern University, Columbia University and New York University. John worked in advertising and marketing for 35 years, employed by major ad agencies in New York City, Detroit, MI and Hudson, OH, serving national advertisers such as General Motors Corporation, Kroger Groceries, Boeing Aircraft, FTD, White Motor Corporation and Firestone Tires. In the course of that career, the family lived in Hempstead, NY, Birmingham, MI and Aurora, Ohio -- bedroom communities of New York City, Detroit and Cleveland. John loved both classical and folk music. He sang Harry Belafonte and Burl Ives favorites to his children on vacation drives and cruising aboard their 37’ yacht, “Francie.” He also sang bass with the Rockefeller Center Choristers in New York City, the General Motors Chorus in Detroit and several church choirs. John and Fran retired in 1980 to Stuart, Florida, where John served two terms as Newcomers Club president and organized and directed a club chorus that performed at local communities and churches. During 35-plus years of “retirement,” John wrote five books: two novels, two personal experience in business and retirement, plus lessons for playing social bridge. Pursuit of family togetherness in their latter years led John and Fran to Williamsburg, VA, in 1998 and finally to Charlotte, NC, in 2003 where daughters Kathleen and Virginia live. They enjoyed many dear friends in three communities -- Carriage Homes in Williamsburg and Trellis Pointe and Willow Grove in Charlotte. At St. Luke Catholic Church, 13700 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill, John served on the Servant Leadership Team, was a lector and chaired the Stewardship Committee. A funeral service will take place there at the church on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11am, with the inurnment and a reception to follow.