Lawrence Doster
Lawrence E. Doster, 95, a long-time resident of the Chattanooga area, died on Tuesday, June 9, 2015.
He attended Baylor School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. As a career Air Force officer, he served 20 years of active duty and flew a total of 6,000 hours in more than 20 different types of aircraft. During World War II, he flew 409 combat missions and logged 786 combat hours in the South Pacific. Decorations included three air medals, three distinguished flying crosses and five campaign stars. He was assigned to 20 duty stations throughout the United States with overseas duty at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, Kadina Air Base in Okinawa, Kunshan Air Base in Korea and Yokota Air Base in Japan. Administrative duties, in addition to specified flying assignments, included disbursing government funds for the purchase of aircraft, related weapons systems, spare parts and supplies. Monthly disbursements exceeded $160,000,000.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1962, Larry became a partner at Citizens Dodge with the position of vice-president and general manger. He was president of Motor Leasing Corporation and secretary of Motor Contract Corporation and was associated with Lawrence-Doster Motor Company for many years, where for 10 years he was in the top 10 producers of Lincoln-Mercury products in the southeastern United States.
He was past president of the Chattanooga Auto Trades Association and past regional vice-president of the Tennessee Automotive Association.
Larry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir for several decades. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club and served in various capacities in the United Fund.
Most of all, Larry will be remembered for his steadfast love of God, family, community and country.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Ruth Blount Doster, and by his brother, Stokely E. Doster, of Lookout Mountain.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Karie and Shea Leatherman of Robinsonville, Mississippi, two granddaughters, Lisa Leatherman Kath (Jeremy) and Christina Shea Leatherman, as well as, three great-grandchildren: Caroline, Paul, and Abbay Kath.
The family will receive friends at Wann Funeral Home on Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m. with services following at 2 p.m. Dr. Harry Lawrence will officiate. Interment will be in Forest Hills Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Moody Bible Institute, Wycliffe Bible Translators, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 4000 Tennessee Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37409, 423 821-7551.