John Glenn Pilgrim

John Glenn Pilgrim, 85, of Abilene died August 16, 2007. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at the First Christian Church with Dr. Tom Lyda officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 17 at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. John was born February 24, 1922 to Sidney Albert Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth (Rose) Pilgrim in Temple, Texas. He graduated from Stephenville High School. John served in the U.S. Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater. He attended Tarleton College in Stephenville and went on to Draughns Business College. In January of 1949, he married Georgia Beckner in Abilene. Before moving to Abilene, in 1950, they ran the General Store at Huckabay. Georgia passed away in 1978 after a long fight with cancer. John joined Abilene Reporter News in Retail Advertising Department in 1953. He held several positions with the newspaper including Retail Advertising department manager, planning assistant to publisher A.B. Shelton and publisher of the Dyess Peacemaker. Following John's retirement from the newspaper, he embarked on a successful real estate career. Most recently, he was associated with Mark Wyatt Real Estate. John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgia Beckner Pilgrim. He is survived by his wife, Anne Pilgrim, who he married in 1987; his children, Barbara Alexander and her husband, Terry of Keller; David Pilgrim and his wife, Melanie of Roby and Mark Wayne Bell and his wife, Jane of Odessa; two sisters, Ruth Humphrey of Knoxville, TN and Betty Kessler of Canton, OH; first grandson Chris Gloyd, and other relatives. John was a member of the Key City Amateur Radio Club, VFW, and Kiwanis Club. John was an elder of First Christian Church. A special place was held in his heart for those who were ill or suffering, many countless hours were spent visiting and ministering to others. Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.