Obituary of John H. Geist

John H. Geist was born on December 4, 1920, in Rutherford, New Jersey.  John (usually referred to as “Jack”) passed away peacefully on January 6 at Zon Assisted Living in Indian Harbor Beach, FL after a recent fall and other medical complications. 

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  Jack was raised in New Jersey. He met his future wife, Hilda, when he was visiting with friends in Woodstock, VA, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jack and Hilda were married in 1944; this was following his service first as a tank commander and then as a C-47 pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in Europe and South America. 

After the war, Jack and Hilda lived in the Washington, D.C. area while he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering at George Washington University.  After graduation, they moved to Woodstock, Virginia. They also lived at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia for several years while Jack was working for the Army Corps of Engineers. They moved to Satellite Beach, Florida in 1957, where he was employed as an aerospace engineer on the Bomarc, Minuteman and Titan Missile programs. Jack also served in the United States Air Force Reserves and retired as a Lt. Colonel.

After retirement in 1980, Jack studied photography at Brevard Community College. He earned an associate degree and worked as a portrait/wedding photographer for several years. 

For 30 years or more, Hilda and Jack enjoyed traveling with friends and family all over the world, including Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Alaska.  Jack especially loved to travel by train and cruise ship, his favorite being Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

Survivors include his daughters Pam Smith (Roy) and Sandy Foxworth (John) and brother in-law, John William Kipps. Surviving nieces and nephews are David Price, John Price, Sue Sanders, Nina Merciadez and their families. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years, Hilda, and by his brother, William Geist.  A memorial service for Jack will be held at the South Patrick Chapel, 854 Harrier Ave, Satellite Beach, FL 32937 at 2:00 p.m. on April, 27. This will be followed by a reception in the chapel annex.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Satellite Beach Fire Department Community Medic Program at 1390 S. Patrick Drive, Satellite Beach, FL 32937 or to St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care at www.reflectionslsc.org.