Obituary of John Myers Dwelle, Jr.

John Myers Dwelle, Jr. passed away on Thursday, December 14 following his battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  He was born in Charlotte, NC on November 11, 1941, the son of John Myers Dwelle and Harriette Culp Dwelle. He was the great grandson of Myers Park visionary and namesake, John Springs Myers, and was the grandson of Mary Myers Dwelle, founder of the Mint Museum of Art. John is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Carol; daughters Jacquelyn Myers Dwelle McGinnis (Lewis) & Gina Morgan Dwelle Lester (Stephen); step children Lyndi Thorpe, Melanie Rose Scofield, & John Jacob Thorpe “Jake;” grandchildren Elizabeth Morgan Golden and Katherine Marie Golden; sisters, Harriette Dwelle Powell, Mary Morgan Dwelle, & Joy Dwelle Wyatt. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Sara Dwelle Klatt “Sally,” and a cousin, Seymoure Zimmerman.

 

John attended Myers Park High School, Oak Ridge Military Academy, and Campbell College in Buies Creek, NC. 

 

John was an astute businessman. He began his finance career in Atlanta, GA, later traveling back to Charlotte to work with his father at John M. Dwelle Real Estate Co. He later formed his own successful company, Dwelle Realty.

 

John loved adventure, travel, and was an avid sportsman. From hunting grizzlies in Alaska to long days at sea reeling in the big fish. He traveled extensively from Russia, throughout Europe, South America, the Amazon, and Chilean fiords. He even flew the Concorde. 

 

John had a lifelong love of boating and was an excellent Captain and navigator. He built his first boat in his teenage years, and spent many summers cruising the East coast & intracoastal waterway. Later in life he volunteered for the Brunswick County police department, patrolling the North Carolina coast around Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

 

John also had a passion for cars, from his 1965 light blue Shelby Cobra Mustang Coupe, to a Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Corvettes. He completed Ron Fellows performance driving school. 

 

John was an extraordinary, self taught, gourmet cook and a lover and connoisseur of wine & oysters. He could singlehandedly reel in a massive king mackerel in the morning, and serve up exquisite mackerel steaks from the grill that night. His recipes were top secret. He was also known for his annual oyster roasts.  He lived by “Dwelle’s law”: “One cannot live well, think well, or sleep well, unless one has dined well.”

 

John adored cats and had many furry friends throughout the years. One of  his businesses carried the name, “Max Maintenance” after one of his cats. Another feline held a very special place in his heart.  “Harrie”  could be seen around town, perched on John’s shoulder, while they patronized favorite eateries, and where Harrie was loved and pampered with shrimp by the staff. Miss Harrie loved boating too, and she accompanied John on his many travels, including his wedding to Carol. In later years, John built a natural cat habitat where he looked after the feral cats on Ocean Isle Beach.

 

It meant a great deal to him to be a Mason and a Shriner for over 40 years. He was a member of Catawba Yacht Club, Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, Charlotte City Club, and Myers Park Country Club. He was a life long member of the NRA.

 

The family would like to thank the staff & residents at The Sharon at SouthPark for their support during his final days. The family is also grateful for the compassionate, attentive care provided by his hospice team, Jessica and Isatu.

 

Services will be held at Hankins and Whittington on East Boulevard on December 20 at 11 AM, followed by a procession and burial at Forest Lawn East. 

 

Online condolences can be made at HankinsandWhittington.com.

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