William Chance
William Donald “Don” Chance, 82, of South Pittsburg passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Hospice Care Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Don was the son of the late Leonard Elmer and Ora Maude Walker Chance. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Gloria Bellomy Chance; daughter, Donna Chance Mathis; sister, Jenny Gore; brothers, Jim Ed, Charles and Willis.
He is survived by his grandson, Brandon (Randi) Coppinger of South Pittsburg; brothers, Elmer Gene “Buddy” (Wanda) Chance of Brodhead, Wisconsin, and Bruce (Ann) Chance of Kimball, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Carol (Bufford) Swafford of South Pittsburg; brother-in-law, Merle (Phyllis) Bellomy of Bridgeport, Al.; special niece, Lisa (Eddie) Dillard of Grand Prairie, Texas; many other nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
A native of South Pittsburg, Tn., he attended Richard Hardy Memorial School and South Pittsburg High School. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he was an engine mechanic on both the B-36 and B-52 bombers, and the Tennessee National Guard. He was co-owner with his brother Charles of the Kimball Shell station and then later owned the Phillips 66 station in Richard City. He took a job as a rural letter carrier with the United States Postal Service in Jasper, Tn. in 1977, from which he retired in 1996. In his retirement, he worked part-time as a driver for Moss Motor Company for several years. He also had a degree in small engine repair and could fix almost anything. He was an avid fan of Tennessee Volunteers football and the Atlanta Braves.
Don loved his family dearly and would gladly do without to see that they were taken care of. He never asked anything of anyone and never complained. Those who knew him always knew to expect a joke, kind word, or just a smile. He will be terribly missed by all who knew him.
The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude and appreciation to Aspire Health Palliative Care Services and Hospice of Chattanooga for their care of Don over the last two years and especially the staff of the Hospice Care Center and his nurse (and cousin) Donna Nelson during the final days of his life. You are appreciated more than you know.
Funeral services will be held in the South Pittsburg Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, March 6, with Reverend Ronnie Case, officiating. Interment will follow at Cumberland View Cemetery in Kimball, Tn.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday, March, 5, from 4–8 p.m. Central time at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 (www.lungusa.org) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942 (www.stjude.org/tribute) or the Hospice of Chattanooga Foundation, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416 (www.hospiceofchattanooga.org).
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.