Kinder-Funeral service for John Albert Gidlow, age 101, will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 2pm at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church of Kinder. Rev. Carlos Garcia will officiate. Burial will follow in Liberty Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin Funeral Home of Kinder.
Visitation will be held at Ardoin Funeral Home beginning Monday, January 9, 2012 from 5-9pm with a Vigil Service beginning at 6:30pm followed by a rosary. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 8am until time of service.
John was born on April 3, 1910 to Edward Gidlow and Susan Lafleur Gidlow in Lauderdale, Louisiana. He was one of fifteen children born to his parents. John attended a one-room schoolhouse in Lauderdale. His education was limited to elementary education. He left school to help his parents on their farm. He married his beautiful neighbor, Geneva O'Quin on December 16, 1933. Together they had five children. They had grown up and lived in the Kinder area all of their lives. John was a farmer, as were his parents. He and his wife eventually took over his parent's farm, where they built a home and lived there to raise their family until they moved to Kinder in 1969. In the fall of 1945, John bought a second hand school bus and started driving a route to supplement his income. He drove this same country route bringing children to school and returning them home until he retired at the age of 65. In addition to driving a school bus, John also worked in Tom Karam's General Merchandise store in Kinder. John would deliver the children to school, then go to work in the store until it was time to drive the children back to their homes.
John always loved politics, so he decided to run for the office of Constable in Kinder. He was elected to that office in 1980 and served until 1992. In 1993, he and his wife had a big celebration for their 60th wedding anniversary. Many friends and relatives came to help them celebrate this special occasion. Geneva Gidlow, his beloved wife of sixty-two years, died in September of 1995. This was a great loss to John and his children. John had difficulty living alone after the loss of his wife, so he moved into Kinder Nursing Home in July, 1998 and lived there for the remainder of his life.
John taught himself to play the fiddle when he was a young man. He loved Cajun French music which is the music he used to play. In the past, he loved to amuse himself by playing dominos and cards with his friends. John spoke two languages fluently; English and Cajun French. Additionally, he spoke some Coushatta Indian language. He was a joy to be around, worked hard to provide for his family over the years, and loved spending time with family and friends. He will be a great loss to all who knew and loved him.
John is survived by one son, Michael Wayne Gidlow and wife, Jean of Hillister, TX; two daughters, Margie Nell Gillard and husband, Patrick of Fannett, TX and Katherine Elizabeth Langley and husband, Irvin of Kinder; two sisters-Carolyn and Annie; seven grandchildren-Donald, Philip, Kay, Michael, Rayvon, Eva and LeighAnn; seven great grandchildren-Chris, Jennifer, Steven, Shannon, Josh, Brylee, and Bryce; and one great-great grandchild-Joseph Anthony.
John is preceded in death by his wife, Geneva O'Quin Gidlow; his parents, Edward and Susan Gidlow; and two sons, Alvin Lee Gidlow and Olin James "Bob" Gidlow.