John Earle Skillman III was the only child of John Earle Skillman Jr. and Nellie Ruth Webber. John was born in Harrisburg, PA, but soon after his birth the family moved to his father’s hometown of Montclair, NJ, where John was raised and attended public school.

Every summer, John and his parents would travel to Salem, VA to visit his mother’s family, often stopping at Gettysburg and Lexington along the way. When it came time to pick a college, he applied to VMI and was accepted. At his father’s suggestion, he also applied to West Point and received a principal appointment. He entered the Academy on July 2, 1957. Shortly before high school graduation he met and began dating Eleanor (Ellie) Conn, the girl who would become his wife for almost 53 years. They were married on July 15, 1961.

John was enthusiastic about a career as an Army officer, but he would often say that a “firstie” year economics course derailed his plans. Each cadet was given a paperback book on the stock market and each room received a three-month subscription to the Wall Street Journal. About the same time, John unexpectedly inherited some shares of stock which peaked his interest in the market. He devoured the book and read the Journal every day.

He was commissioned into the Artillery branch and, after completing the Basic Course and Airborne School, reported to the 24th Division Artillery in Munich, Germany. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 92nd Artillery and served as forward observer, battery executive officer, battery commander, and assistant S3. The years in Germany were filled with making many new and lifelong friends, travelling as much as possible, and the birth of two children, Kenneth Robert in 1963 and Lee Ann in 1964. The stock market continued to lure John. After reading many more books on the market and completing a correspondence course, he made the difficult decision to resign his commission and pursue his desire to become a stockbroker. The family settled in New Jersey, and in 1969 a third child, Paige Elizabeth, was born.

Over the four decades in his investment career John was a stockbroker and branch manager but spent the last 25 years as a marketing representative for various investment products. He called on brokers throughout the Southeastern states, Texas, and Puerto Rico and often stated that he was one of the lucky few people in this world who absolutely loved his job. In 2000 he earned the designation of Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) upon completion of a program sponsored by the Investment Management Consultants Association and the Wharton School.

Having lived in Florida since 1972, the thought of spending summers in a cooler climate was very appealing, and a few years before his retirement John found property just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke, VA, which became the setting for their mountain house. The home in Virginia was a wonderful gathering place for family and friends, and some of John’s happiest moments were spent taking the grandkids on his beloved John Deere “Gator” for rides around the neighborhood or enjoying a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace.

John was concerned that he would become bored in retirement but that proved to be anything but true. He retired just after his 68th birthday and immediately immersed himself in many activities and organizations. His interest in genealogy had begun many years earlier and he had collected over 20,000 names of relatives in his database. John was a seventh great-grandson of Thomas Skillman who came from England in 1664. In 2012 John founded the Skillman Family Association, Inc., which served as a forum for the preservation of materials regarding the history and genealogy of the Skillman family. He published two articles on genealogy: one in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record and one in The New York Researcher. He became active in findagrave.com, entering memorials on over 400 deceased friends and relatives and also participated in their volunteer photo program, taking photos of requested gravestones for relatives in places too distant for them to visit the cemetery. His third great-grandfather, Jacob Skillman, served in the New Jersey Militia, allowing John to join the Sons of the American Revolution. John served as Tampa Chapter president in 2012 and 2013 and was a dual member of the Fincastle Resolutions Chapter in Roanoke, VA, where he served in the Color Guard. He always enjoyed helping others trace their roots to find the connection that would allow membership in the SAR. One month before his passing, by sheer determination, he attended the monthly meeting and proudly received his 10-year pin. From 1996 to 2004 he served as a Local Board Member of the Selective Service System in Tampa.

John was a man who lived each day of his life to the fullest. He wrote and published his autobiography and a book on his ancestors as a legacy to his descendants. He was active in Freemasonry, with membership in Masonic Lodges both in Virginia and Florida. Although he did not remain in the military, throughout his life John kept close ties with West Point and always felt a strong sense of pride to have been a graduate. In the words of a classmate, John was a loving husband and father as well as a loyal citizen and discriminating gentleman. He was demanding and knowledgeable and loved his country, serving it both as a soldier and a civilian. Well done, John! Be Thou at Peace.

— His wife and family