Tom Stinnett
Robert Thomas Stinnett was born on February 29, 1944, in Nashville, Tennessee, and died on August 23, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Tom graduated from Nashville East High School, the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Law School. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and ROTC. He was past president of the Chattanooga Civitan Club. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church for over 30 years.
Upon graduation from UT he was commissioned into the US Army as a second lieutenant. After serving the US Army in Naples, Italy, Tom returned to Tennessee to attend UT Law School. Following graduation, he clerked for his father-in-law, James Parrott, Tennessee Court of Appeals and practiced law in Knoxville for 20 years at Stone and Hinds. In 1994 he was appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the 6th district and relocated to Chattanooga where he served as judge for 16 years before retiring in 2010.
In Tennessee he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, bridge at the Chattanooga Bridge Center and being with both new and lifelong friends. Tom loved the warmth and sunshine of winters in Mexico and the camaraderie of friends and neighbors he met there. He spent many hours “holding court” at the pool, winning at poker and bridge and hosting many house guests. Wherever he was on Feb. 29, he always had fun on his leap year birthday and delighted in reminding you that this year was only his 18th birthday. Tom loved life, never met a stranger and relished every new day.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Bill Stinnett and sister, Barbara Stinnett Latta.
He is survived by his wife, Libby Parrott Stinnett, sons, Robert Thomas (Rob) Stinnett of Franklin, Tn., and James Stuart (Jay) Stinnett of Knoxville, and grandchildren, Trace Landrum and Payton Stinnett of Franklin; brother, Bill Stinnett (Yvonne) of Ashland City, Tn., and sister, Jean Stinnett Neal, of Lavergne, Tn. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Cynthia Parrott Smith (John) of Nashville, his brother-in-law, Al Parrott (Mitzi) of Strawberry Plains, Tn., and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends and celebrate his life on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Mountain City Club, 729 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, from 4–6 p.m.
Funeral services will be on Monday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m., with burial following in the columbarium at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 544 N. Broadway, Knoxville. Friends and family will gather in the fellowship hall following the service to celebrate and share memories of Tom’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Tom with a memorial to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 544 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917, Chattanooga Civitan Club, P. O. Box 746, Chattanooga, TN 337401 for the new Chattanooga Children’s Hospital or UT College Fund for Law, Attn: Development Office, 1505 W. Cumberland Avenue, suite 248, Knoxville, Tn. 37996.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.