John William Gatton, 80 of Hollywood, MD died of angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma on April 20, 2013 at his residence. Born September 19, 1932 in Pearson, MD (Patuxent River Naval Air Station), he was the son of the late William Gatton and Mary Catherine (Evans) Gatton.

Mr. Gatton grew up in Medley's Neck and Leonardtown and attended Our Lady's School and St. Mary's Academy. He served as an altar boy at Our Lady's Church. In his younger years, Mr. Gatton was a member of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1950 and retired from the Air Force in 1970. After his retirement, he had a career in the furniture business. Mr. Gatton enjoyed winter trips to Fort Myers Beach, FL and enjoyed watching the Baltimore Orioles.

Mr. Gatton is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ernestine (Loos) Gatton; daughter, Barbara Ann Beard of Leonardtown, MD; son, Robert F. Gatton of Lusby, MD; brothers, James I. "Jimmy" Gatton of Leonardtown, MD and Charles B. "Dickie" Gatton of Callaway, MD; and sister, Gloria G. Hayden of Hollywood, MD. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gatton was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Frances "Frankie" Knott.

Family will receive friends on Friday, April 26, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Prayers will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Raymond Schmidt on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady's Church, 41348 Medley's Neck Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will follow in Our Lady's Church Cemetery, Leonardtown, MD.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bobby Gatton, Dickie Gatton, Jackie Norris, Dickie Norris, Bernie Beavan and Bernard Goldsborough.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice House of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.