IRVINGTON—John Alexander Gill, MD, 103, a resident of Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington, died October 25, 2025.
The son of Dr. William Wallace Gill and Emory Dabney Gill, he was born in Richmond on March 6, 1922. He attended The Richmond Normal Public School and graduated from St. Christopher’s School in 1940. In 1943, he graduated as a premedical student in the Accelerated Army Specialized Training Corps at the University of Virginia. In 1946, he earned his MD degree from the Medical College of Virginia. That same year he married the former Frances Durbin Robertson.
Dr. Gill’s first Army assignment was in 1947 as a training specialist in otolaryngology at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C. Several months later he was assigned to the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, then under U.S. occupation. There he served as chief of the Department of Otolaryngology.
After his discharge from the Army, Dr. Gill continued his post graduate training at New York University Medical School, followed by a residency at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital. He returned to Richmond to practice his specialty, joining the McGuire Clinic. He continued specialty work in the Department of Otolaryngology as a faculty member at the Medical College of Virginia for four years.
Dr. Gill then went into private practice at Johnston-Willis and Chippenham Hospitals. Throughout his career, Dr. Gill’s general prescription for his patients was hot tea with fresh lemon, bed rest, a good book and no television.
Dr. Gill was certified as a specialist in otolaryngology by the American Board of Otolaryngology, was a member of the Junior Clinical Club of Richmond, the American College of Surgery and the American Society for Head and Neck Surgeons. He was a former member of the Richmond German Club and was a member of the Country Club of Virginia and The Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club.
In retirement, Dr. Gill and his wife Frances traveled to England, France and Germany. He never ventured forth without a sketchbook in hand. Most of all, however, Dr. Gill enjoyed the house he and Frances built on Dividing Creek in Northumberland County. There he spent his time reading, working in the yard, boating, searching for wildlife, painting watercolors and making blueberry pancakes for his grandchildren.
Dr. Gill was a student of history, always researching and especially captivated by events concerning Virginia. He was keenly interested in politics and world affairs, often writing letters to the editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, some of which were published.
Dr. Gill was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Margaret Gill Donovan; his wife, Frances; and sister, Emory Gill Williams.
He is survived by his daughters, Durbin Gill Emerson (Trux) of Franklin, Tenn., and Ellen Gill Ball of Richmond; and son-in-law, Thomas Donovan of Raleigh, N.C. He is survived by seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory be made to the Foundation for Historic Christ Church, P.O. Box 24, Irvington, Virginia, 22480.
A private graveside service will be held at Christ Church in Weems.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
