John Heistand Lindsay, born June 24, 1937, in Germantown, Philadelphia to John B. Lindsay and Margert E. Lindsay of Philadelphia, PA passed away peacefully in the arms of his Savior, October 4, 2025. He is survived by his wife Bobbie Lindsay and preceded in death by his brother, David Lindsay and his beloved dog, Spring.
Jack attended Germantown Academy and graduated Cum Lade in 1955. Following high school, he took flying lessons and there began his love for aviation. He then attended Darthmouth College, serving as president of his fraternity. Because of his love of drumming, he played drums in the Barbary Coast Orchestra for three years, the marching band for one year, and played jazz in the Sultans for three years.
Because of his love for country, Jack joined the US Navy in 1959 where he attended Officer’s Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island where he hoped to become Tail Hook Aviator but instead, he was assigned to the destroyer, USS Tingey, in San Diego, California. Subsequently he was ordered to Naval Flight School in 1961 at Jacksonville, Florida followed by further training at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego. He then joined VF143 on the USS Constellation and served there until May 1965. Jack participated in the Gulf of Tokin incident in 1964. After service on the Constellation, he was assigned to graduate school at Rensselaer Poly Tech Troy, New York majoring in Industrial Management. Jack was then ordered to Wright Patterson Airforce Base in Dayton, Ohio where he met his future wife, Bobbie. He was then ordered to VF213 on the USS Kitty Hawk where he earned Lt. Commander and was relieved of duty in 1969.
Between 1969 and 1971 Jack flew for a commuter airline and in 1970 Jack and Bobbie were married. Jack rejoined the US Navy in 1971 and flew with VF41 until June of 1974, when he was reassigned to Washington, DC as a Commander until retirement in 1983. Jack received numerous awards and accolades throughout his Navy career.
In 1983 Jack and Bobbie moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana where they started a manufacturing company, taught aviation, and was president of a flying club. Jack also built his own airplane, and he and Bobbie traveled all over the United States.
In 2013 Jack and Bobbie moved to The Villages, Florida where he spent much of his time playing golf and drums with The Village Twirlers. He also belonged to the Straight Shooters Club, The Villages Aviators Club, the Wings of Gold Club, and the Star Pilot’s Association. He also received the Orville and Wilbur Wright Award for having flown safely for 50 years. Jack was a certified flight instructor and a licensed airline transport pilot.
Jack dearly loved Bobbie, his wife of 55 years, and his son, David and wife Pam, his grandchildren, Shannon, Rachel, Sarah, and Rebekah as well as his great grandchildren, Jerod, Jacob, Rowyn, Presley, Ezra and Oakley Grace and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, November 6 at Lake Deaton United Methodist Church, The Villages, Florida. Internment will be at 11:00 a.m. at Bushnell National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at Everglades Recreation Center from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Lunch will be served.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306