Tommy Gwaltney
Tommy Auburn Gwaltney, 85, of Apison, Tennessee, died on Saturday, December 12, 2015.
He was born on July 17, 1930 in Memphis. In 1950 he married Annette Wilson and they were married for 65 years. Tommy served his country in the United States Army during the Korean conflict.
He began his working career as a paperboy in Memphis and later became a stone mason and brick layer. He purchased Chattanooga Stone and Marble in 1963 and moved his young family to Chattanooga for a short time before moving to Apison. He sold the business to Hulsey Concrete Products and worked for them and other construction related companies. His work can be seen throughout the Chattanooga area, the most visible being the stone cross atop OLPH. In 1980 he purchased General Heating and Air with a business partner. He began working for the postal service and was a rural letter carrier until his retirement in 1994.
Tommy was the community handyman, performing a variety of jobs, large and small for friends and neighbors. He loved gardening and working with his trees. He played softball into his mid-70s and was an active traveler; hiking the Grand Canyon, riding zip-lines in Costa Rica and climbing Angel Falls in Venezuela.
He attended Apison Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Steve George Gwaltney, mother Una Auburn Sharits, sister June Payne and grandson, Cole Neal.
Survivors include his loving wife, Annette Gwaltney of Apison, five children, Kathy (Eddie) Ingle of Ooltewah, Barbara Payne of Rossville, Beverly Neal of Chattanooga, Ralph (Lisa) Gwaltney of Cleveland, Kelly (Wayne) Hullander of Apison, 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, sister Bettie Holley of Florida, brother-in-law, George Payne of Bartlett, Tn., and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Apison Baptist Church with pastors Tylan Blansit and Sterling Jetton officiating. Interment will follow in Plowman Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Gideon’s International.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the funeral home.
Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.