Dr. Gladden Sr.

Dr. John Allen Gladden, Sr. (78) of Gallatin, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2016. John, born October 30, 1938 in Anniston, AL was the youngest of seven children. Retired from the US Air Force, John travelled the world and ended his career as an AF recruiter, then worked as a Social Worker for the SC Dept. of Corrections and the Dept. of the Army in MA before discovering his favorite role, Santa, at Opryland Hotel, in Hendersonville and Gallatin. He carried candy canes in his pocket year round for his young admirers. John's lifelong love was genealogical research. John is survived by his children: Shana Gladden Shelton (Ray) of Provo, UT, John Allen Gladden II of Huntsville, AL, and Hannah Gladden Dance (Zach) of Gallatin, TN, his grandchildren: Johnathan Christopher Gladden of Athens, AL, Daniel Carey Gladden of Hazel Green, AL, Benson Shelton of Morro Bay, CA, the late Nathan Shelton (Kaitlyn) of Murrieta, CA, Jared Shelton (Marcella) of Norfolk, VA, Shalyn Shelton Weber (Jason) of Saratoga Springs, UT, Logan Shelton of Provo, UT, Rachel Shelton of Salt Lake City, UT, Ashlee Shelton of Provo, UT, and Hyrum Shelton of Provo, UT, and 4 great-grandchildren. A Life Celebration service for John will be held at Hendersonville Funeral Home on Saturday, December 10, at 2:00pm. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm. Burial will follow at Hendersonville Memory Gardens, with full Military Honors. Memorial donations welcome: woundedwarriorproject.org or uso.org. Hendersonville Funeral Home, 353 E. Main St., Hendersonville, TN, 37075, 615-824-3855, hendersonvillefh.com