Tommy Lupton
Thomas Allen Lupton Jr., 79, died Monday, May 4, 2009 at his residence.
The first baby born at T.C. Thompson Children's hospital, he attended the Bright School, the Baylor School and Washington and Lee University. After serving in the United States Navy he returned to Chattanooga in 1954 to work for Stone Fort Land Company, which was founded in 1896.
He headed the Stone Fort Land Company until selling the business later in life to Bob Corker, who shared his dreams and passions for the betterment of Chattanooga. T.A. was the Jaycees Man of the Year in 1961.
He served as a director of numerous civic organizations, including the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the Chattanooga Heart Association, American Red Cross and Goodwill Industries.
He was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1960. He was chairman of the board of deacons at First Presbyterian Church. In addition, he served on the boards of SunTrust Bank, The Mountain City Club, The Bright School and the Baylor School for 35 years.
He put his expertise to work while overseeing major building and grounds expansion at Baylor School. His service to Baylor was described as “phenomenal and unwavering” by a fellow trustee.
He had a dramatic effect on the commercial and residential landscape of Chattanooga as well as other southeastern cities. The most predominant landmarks he developed were the Krystal and Tallan Buildings and Heritage Landing.
His many other developments include the Emerson Building, the City of Chattanooga Office Building, the Hav-a-Tampa Cigar Company Building, the General Electric Supply Company Building, the Chattanooga Belting Supply Company Building, the Sears Roebuck Warehouse, the General Motors Warehouse, the Binswanger Glass Building, the American Can Company Building, the General Tire Company Building, Riverside Center, the Olan Mills Building, several TVA Office and Warehouse buildings, the Tennessee-American Water Company Building, the Continental, the Lyndhurst community, Hidden Brook, Emerald Valley and Ramsgate.
He built buildings for the E.I. du Pont deNemours Company in Chattanooga, as well as Dalton, Ga., Wilmington, N.C. and Waynesboro, Va., and began work on an 800-acre subdivision on Lake Lanier near Atlanta, Ga. He became involved in the development of a 900-acre subdivision in Nashville with the Southern Land Company.
He arranged for the gift of land that made Chattanooga State Technical Community College a reality and donated land on Amnicola Highway to create the Riverwalk. He managed many of the buildings he built and endeared himself to his tenants with frequent contact and his concern for their comfort and satisfaction.
T.A.'s interests and hobbies included hunting, golfing, playing cards with his Wednesday group and working in the yard. A “do-it-yourselfer," he single-handedly tackled the arduous job of clearing the Eagle's Nest Park on the side of Lookout Mountain from decades of neglect. He felt a personal responsibility to preserve and enhance the beauty and character of land and to leave it better than he found it.
Some of T.A.'s most enjoyable times were spent in duck blinds with family and friends from West Memphis, Ar., to Stubbs Island, Ms. Even though the last eight years of his life were spent in a wheelchair, his spirit was indomitable and he inspired those he came in contact with and lifted their burdens with his humor and compassion.
He will be remembered both for the greatness of his accomplishments and for his genuine interest in others.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Beth Marley Lupton; daughters, Kimbriel “Kim” Lupton Strang and husband, Ewing, Beth (Boofie) Lupton Crimmins and husband, Ryan, all of Lookout Mountain; his son, Thomas Allen Lupton III and wife, Naomi of Athens, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Brad Strang, Leland Strang, Ryan Crimmins, Conley Crimmins, Bryson Crimmins, all of Lookout Mountain; Hannah Lupton and Thomas Allen Lupton IV both of Athens, Ga.; brother, Fred W. Lupton and wife Jane of Chattanooga; sister, Betty Lou Maddin Lupton McCallie and husband, David of Chattanooga, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Ben Haden and Pastor Mike Pregg officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be Scotty Probasco, C.A. Parks, Dr. David McCallie, Freddy Lupton, Lance Parker, Rody Davenport IV, John Gass, Summerfield Johnston, J.J. Davenport, Ted Franklin, Joe Persinger, Phil Whitaker and Joel Richardson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Baylor School, 171 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga 37405, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, One Siskin Plaza, Chattanooga 37403, or a charity of choice.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to share condolences.
The family wishes to thank Yvonne Ownby, T.A.'s personal secretary, for her loving devotion of many years, and the care and friendship provided by Laurie Bailey, Betty Cagle, David Whitmire, Jonathan Butler, Sheila Peterman and Arlene Buckles.
The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Avenue.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.