John Alfred Gralton

John Alfred “Jack” Gralton, of Melbourne, FL, died peacefully in his sleep at home, and left this life to join our Heavenly Father on July 27, 2025. He was 67 years young.

Born in Chicago on Christmas Eve in 1957, to Glenn and Mary Alice (Bieber) Gralton, Jack was the 4th of their 5 children. The family relocated to Orlando in 1958 and settled in Pine Hills. His father’s new job at Martin Marietta exposed young Jack to the exciting world of rockets and space travel, and he enjoyed dozens of books about astronauts and the space program throughout his life.

Jack attended St. Andrew’s Catholic and Bishop Moore Catholic High School, FSU and UCF.  It was at Bishop Moore, in their Senior year (75-76) that Deborah Anne Houff worked up her nerve and asked Jack to the Sadie Hawkins dance, and thus began their exciting and adventurous 50 year romance. Deb and Jack married in 1988 and moved to Melbourne, FL where Jack accepted a managerial position with Middleton Pest Control. There they raised 2 sons, Jacob and Jared, in their first and forever home, a fun-filled gathering place for their kids, their sports teams, and for neighbors and lifelong friends, as well as their large extended family.

Jack was a naturally gifted athlete and enjoyed competing in many sports, beginning with boxing at Pine Hills Boys Club, basketball, swimming and track in elementary school, then football, basketball and track in high school. He was voted Most Athletic Guy in his senior class, and in 2022, he was inducted into Bishop Moore’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Never one to miss out on the action, Jack played in men’s softball and golf leagues in his later years. He infectiously passed the love of sports onto his sons. Through their adult years, they shared sporting adventure time on the golf course and playing Golden Tee. Jack was an intense Tampa Bay Bucs fan, a faithful Jaguars fan, and a Forever FSU fan. Many a time was spent cheering teams and watching sports on TV with his family, even up to his final hours, during which Jack watched a boxing match with Jared.

Jack was a very proud hands-on dad, coaching Jacob and Jared’s teams in Melbourne PAL football, FBVA basketball and little league baseball, but he was happiest playing golf with his sons and his friends. He loved his pets: Tom the turtle, cats Bubba and Dusty, dogs Cooper, Maggie, Oliver, Sandy, and finally Bella, his sweet and faithful yellow lab, who kept by his side during his illness. Jack looked forward to Christmas Eve parties on his birthday, Port Canaveral cruises, Weber grilling and soaking up New Smyrna Beach for Labor Day weekends.

Jack was a great story teller and comic. His positivity was infectious and constant and he was “humble and kind”. He loved the home he and Deb built together and was happy sitting with her in the back yard, under the pergola, listening to music. He’d often remark with a wink, “I’m just a simple man with simple needs…”

A self-described “Garden Guru”, Jack had a passion for gardening and the joy it brought him. He also loved his outdoor career centered around his two businesses, Safer Pest Control and Greenway Pest Control, retiring in 2021.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Glenn and Mary Alice, and his nephew, Travis Gralton. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Deborah, his sons Jacob (Callahan) and Jared (Kristen), his brothers Glenn (Gerri) and Dan (Linda), and his sisters Cathy Wingate (Bill) and Peggy Willis (Russ), 6 nephews, and 4 nieces.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Jack’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.