James Odie Wise, 80, of Cleveland, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019, in a Chattanooga hospital.
He had lived in the Cleveland area most of his life, and he was a member of West Cleveland Baptist Church. He had been employed at the Cleveland Country Club and Colonial Baking Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert B. Wise and Catherine Bass Wise; brothers, Bobby Wise and Gene Wise; and sisters, Savannah Elrod and Ruth Harrington.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ressie “Rusty” Mae Murphy Wise; son, James Wesley Wise and wife Christy Dawn of Cumberland Gap, TN; three grandchildren, Ashley Darlene Wise-Mitchell and husband Eric of Louisville, KY, James Robert Wise of Cumberland Gap, TN, and Christa Anne Wise of Cumberland Gap, TN; close family friends, Michael Burnette and Ashley Marie Burnette (who were like a son and granddaughter to the family); and several nieces and nephews also survive.
A celebration of his life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Military honors, a white dove release ceremony, and the playing of bagpipes will conclude the service.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, at the funeral home.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Wise family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.