Jack Melvin Gilliland

Jack Melvin Gilliland, 91, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Jack was born on July 22, 1922, to Lela Maud Robinson and Charles E. Gilliland in Yale, Okla. From 1939 to 1940 he attended Southwestern College, Winfield, Kan., as a pre-med student. From 1940 to 1945 he was a student at the University of Kansas, Lawrence and Kansas City, Kan. He graduated with A.B. and M.D. degrees. He served a rotating internship at Wesley Hospital, Wichita, Kan., and served on active military duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1946-1947 at Hamilton Field, Calif., and Clark AB, Philippines, which completed his obligated service. He then entered private practice in Peabody, Kan. In 1950, he was recalled to active duty and remained in the USAF until October 1977. His first assignments were at Moultrie Field, Ga., and Harlingen AFB, Texas. He served as an exchange medical officer with the RAF in London, England, and then as commander of the 47th Tactical Hospital in Sculthorpe, England. He also served in Japan as commander of the 5th Epidemiological Flight and commander of the 6160th USAF Hospital. He also served in Vietnam in 1970s. His last assignment was as commander of the School of Health Care Sciences at Sheppard AFB, Texas. Jack married Betty Gettel Dunaway in October 1977, just before he retired, and they moved first to Fort Collins, Colo., to take care of his parents, and then after they passed away, they moved to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1982. Jack loved to golf and made many friends on the golf course. He also did beautiful needlepoint and latchhook, and put many beautiful clocks together from kits. Jack was predeceased in death by his parents; a brother, Gerald; and first wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Betty; one daughter, Janice G. Wells of Denver Colo.; one son, Michael C. Gilliland and wife, Sue, of Marietta, Ga., a stepdaughter, Kelly Long and husband, James, of Sharpsburg, Ga.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, at Fayetteville National Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or Circle of Life Hospice. Online condolences may be made to www.funeralmation.com.