John Mangum Millwater, Jr.
May 31, 1950 - March 1, 2015

John Mangum Millwater, age 64, went to be with the Lord on March 1, 2015. He was born in Lakewood, New Jersey. Son of John and Edith Nye Millwater, and was the oldest of seven.

In 1970 John married his high school sweetheart, Carol Bishoff, in Fort Lauderdale, and shortly thereafter they started their family. Son John Mangum Millwater, III was born in 1972 and daughter Karen Dawn Millwater was born in 1975.

John's professional career began as a union electrician, where he worked in Fort Lauderdale, moving to New Orleans in 1976. His career flourished once he became employed with Entergy Corporation in the nuclear engineering field. John received many awards throughout his lifetime of working, but his most cherished was being honored with the Jerry Mauldin Humanitarian Award, a tribute to his philanthropy.

John was instrumental in the growth and development of the youth program at First United Methodist Church in Houma, Louisiana. Through his determination and creativity, that program grew to nearly 100 teenagers who participated in a clown ministry, enjoyed mission trips and experienced life changing and personality building programs.

John's creativity took a remarkable turn when he began making games for Special Olympics. An outreach of the youth program, teens attended as clowns, and the games were the entertainment, filling time between events. John's enthusiasm for inventing, designing and building his amazing games became his passion. The impact of these games grew to other states when the SciTech Discovery Center in Frisco, Texas, purchased an entire collection.

As an author, John wrote and published Heartstrings, a novel for young teens. Through the years, his treasure trove of poetry grew, and up until his death, he was planning a new book of poetry, prose and personal observations. His wife Carol has promises to see that this collection will be published.

A man of many passions, humorist and deeply spiritual, John will be genuinely missed. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Carol; his son John and wife Erin Rein Millwater of Winter Springs, FL; his daughter Karen Dawn Millwater McGowan and her husband, Kenneth McGowan of Houma, LA; and his cherished granddaughters, Catherine Ann and Caroline Grace Millwater, and Kolby Renee and Abigail Chase McGowan. He is also survived by sisters Patti Lebel of Yulee, FL and Bette Uliano of Williston, FL and brothers Eddie Millwater of Orlando, FL, Terry Millwater and Timmy Millwater, both of Willison, FL. John is predeceased by his parents, John Mangum Millwater, Sr., Edith Nye Millwater Daughtry, and brother Kenny Millwater.

Friends and Family are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, March 6, 4:00 pm at Allen J. Harden Funeral Home, 1800 North Donnelly Street, Mount Dora, FL 32757.

Flowers are welcome; however, donations may be sent to We Care of Lake County, P. O. Box 1069, Tavares, FL 32778.