John David Gandy

John David Gandy, 80, of Bartow, Florida died on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was born June 20, 1930, in Lake Garfield, Florida and lived in Apopka and Bartow until college. After graduating from the University of Florida, he became an officer in the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam War. After his military retirement, he completed his M.B.A. at George Washington University and continued to work for the federal government. In 1989, he and his wife of 55 years, Ann Efland Gandy, returned to Bartow and kept their home for part of the year in Fairfax County,Virginia. John loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, shooting, fishing, and sailing. He is survived by his wife Ann; daughter Patricia Venable and husband Bill of Ventura, CA; son Matthew Gandy and wife Annette of Tualatin, OR; daughter Martha Aker and husband Clyde of Yreka, CA; and five grandchildren: Sally Venable, Anne Venable, Sam Venable, Gregory Gandy, and Ben Gandy. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at the Efland United Methodist Church in Efland, North Carolina, with interment to follow in church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard St., Alexandria, Virginia 22311, or www.diabetes.org.