Willard Grant
Willard Pierce Grant, 93, of Hixson, died on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.
A lifelong resident of Hamilton County, he was born on March 20, 1922 on Mowbry Mountain and was the son of the late Albert and Emma Yother Grant. He was the 11th of 13 children of seven sisters and five brothers. He was a 1940 graduate of Soddy-Daisy High School where he played football and basketball. He then attended Milligan College for one year where he played varsity basketball before joining the U.S. Air Force.
Willard also graduated from flight school and was rated to fly multiple engine aircraft. As a pilot, he flew supplies out of the Gulf Region to various U.S. cities and to Europe during World War II from 1942 to 1946. After the war he continued in the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after 38 years of service in 1982.
On Sept. 29, 1950, he married the love of his life, Vera Cabler Boyd. He also worked for DuPont and retired as a supervisor in the nylon department with 38 years of service. He was active in the Lions Club where he was past President and served in many other positions in the club.
Willard was a member of the Red Bank Baptist Church where he served as Deacon. He also kept active with a large garden, and built shuffle board, basketball court, badminton court and a horse shoe pit to keep his family active.
Willard coached his boys in baseball and spent many summer days taking the kids out on the lake for skiing and fun. He was a generous man, always helping others anyway he could and still offering to help or give items to those that come by. He and Vera belonged to a bridge club where they made many lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Grant; five brothers, Clark, Archie, Ray, Theodore and Percy; five sisters, Iva, Mae, Nina, Marie and Wilma.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Morning Pointe staff for their dedication to meeting Willard’s needs these last six years.
He is survived by four children, Jeanne (James) Abbott; Sharon (Robert) Slaten, John (Renee) Grant and Donald (Debbie) Grant; sister, Blanch (E.W.) Monroe; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 3, in the North Chapel with Dr. Fred Steelman officiating. Entombment will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 6401 Highway 153.
Please share your memories at ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com.