John Mealer

CHICKAMAUGA — John Andrew (Johnny) Mealer, 65, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017. He was born on Wednesday, May 23, 1951, to the late John Hamilton and Beulah Mae Shipley Mealer. Johnny has gone to the other side to await his son and daughter-in-law, John Michael and Amber Mealer. Born a Wednesday’s Child, John left the hills of eastern Kentucky in September 1971, to launch his young life assisting in the design of the nuclear-powered submarine SSN 688 Los Angeles and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier CVN 68 USS Nimitz. Being Scots-Irish, the wanderlust took him in many new and exciting directions. He changed his career to designing nuclear power plants, 10 total. The life adventures took him from coast-to-coast, and finally to his beloved Georgia. For 41 years, his wanderlust took him in search of the one place he knew he could "drop anchor," find peace and love, and say to himself, “I choose here to die." While in Georgia, Johnny searched for nearly a year for that one place he could finally call home. And then he found it...an Italian Villa he would later name Villa Felicita. As he would often say, “The last part of my life will be the best part of my life." And so it was. He prospered mightily upon this land. Johnny was always fond of telling others, quoting Plato; ”Treating everyone you meet with respect. For everyone you meet is fighting a great struggle." As is the creed of the Scots-Irish, Johnny left us with; “Fight. Sing. Drink. Pray." Johnny was also survived by his cousins, Paula Mitchell Zip, Charles Reed Mitchell, and Ina Mitchell Gatliff and his “best friend in life," Ralph Tiller. A private family memorial will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home-J. Avery Bryan Chapel, Chickamauga.