Claude A. Finley, 94, of Chattanooga, died Wednesday, May 21, 2003, in Alpharetta, Ga., while visiting family.
He was a prominent public accountant and businessman in the area for many years. In the 1930s he audited coal mines in the mountains of East Tennessee and West Virginia. In the 1950s and 1960s he was associated with the Double Cola Company as vice president and controller. While affiliated with Double Cola, he was responsible for setting up international franchises in such places as Brussels, Belgium, and Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as many domestic plants. He traveled to many of these in his management role. He retired in 1966 when the company was sold to Fairmont Foods Corporation, although he served as an adviser for several years afterward.
In the early 1970s, he came out of retirement to manage the local Double Cola Bottling Company after the death of the manager. He enjoyed his retirement of over 30 years with fishing, genealogy, and traveling to all 50 states, over 70 countries and six continents.
He was on Pan American’s 25th anniversary flight from Paris, France, to Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1964. He was in Washington at the time of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his hotel suite was a broadcast place for Chet Huntley and David Brinkley’s coverage of the funeral. He also had left Dallas the day before President John Kennedy’s assassination.
Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of organizations such as the Tennessee Association of Public Accountants, the First Families of Tennessee, National Association of Public Accountants, National Association of Cost Accountants, Delta Air Lines Million Miles Club. He was commissioned a "Flying Colonel" by Delta Air Lines in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of aviation and his support of air transportation. He was also a member of Tyner United Methodist Church.
He was the son of the late James Frederick Arnold and Annie Mae Ficken Finley. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mabel Bates Finley.
He is survived by his daughter, Zenade Finley Hatchett of Chattanooga; a granddaughter, Janice Hatchett Dobrow, and grandson-inlaw Sam Dobrow; and great-granddaughters, Shannon and Jordan Dobrow, all of Alpharetta. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and cousins scattered throughout the world.
Funeral services were to be held Sunday at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Paul Smith officiating.
Interment will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
The family was to receive friends Sunday from 2 p.m. until service time at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.