John Gilbert Lusk

John Gilbert Lusk died at the age of 95 in the early morning hours of August 24, 2023.  Born to a single mother during the years of the Great Depression on May 13, 1928; he was of a generation of boys who survived by doing the work of men at an early age. This ran as a constant through his life where work and duty always prevailed. Dropping out of school at an early age he worked as a farm hand and at 18 years old enlisted in the United States Army to serve his country in the Korean War. Testament to his loyalty to friends, he stayed in touch with his platoon for the rest of his life. 

Tough times made for tough choices which in turn made him a fiercely independent man. Returning home from Korea, he worked construction for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. With his strong work ethic and credible reputation, he garnered a bank loan which enabled his entry into a lifetime of self-employment. In the mid 1960s he owned and operated Lusk Esso Service Station on 4th Street in downtown Winston-Salem, then later, a newly built Esso Service Station on Broad Street. In 1972 he started from the ground up another business, P&B Distributors which later became Clean-Up Supply, a company still owned and operated by his son John and grandson Patrick. The company manufactures and sells cleaning supplies to the car industry. Also, still in operation is Climate Controlled Mini Storage a company which he started in Lexington, NC in 2004.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Greta, his mother, Ella and his brother Albert. He has three sons, David (Amy), Conrad, and John (Cathy). He is known as Pawpaw to his grandchildren- Ryan, Tanner, Tyson, Patrick, to his great joy finally a girl in the family, Andrea and great-grandkids Sophia and Conrad. He is survived by his loving, lifelong partner, Wilma Conrad and her children Kathy Holcomb (Brian), Bobby Garner (Barbara), and grandchildren Misty, Christopher and Randy.

What he lacked for in formal education, he made up for twice over with perseverance, resilience and a shining sense of honesty. His uniquely brash and straightforward sense of humor and generosity will be forever missed by his family, friends and neighbors.