Finley Bandy
Finley E. Bandy was born on March 25, 1929, and went to heaven on November 22, 2021, at the age of 92.
The Rhea County native graduated from Rhea Central (Dayton) High school in 1947 and headed out to play for the New York Giants baseball organization where he played several years in the minor leagues. This athleticism led to his induction into the Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame. After baseball, he joined the U.S. Air Force. When he completed his service to his country, Finley Bandy would return to Chattanooga and ultimately retire from “the phone company”. He would marry the love of his life, Geraldine Holloway Bandy, and raise six children.
He and his wife were deeply entrenched in the Rhea County and Hixson communities. Finley was the president of the Middle Valley Park and a proud member of the Kiwanis, but what he is most well known for was his devotion to the Lord. He was first a member of the Brainerd Church of Christ and later Hixson/Clear Creek Church of Christ. He was often the first person to arrive on Sunday mornings to prepare the coffee and café for morning worshipers.
Though he would spend his adult years residing in the Chattanooga area, he never fully left his home of Rhea County owning a cabin in Spring City, where he and his wife would watch their family grow for generations. The Bandy Clan would meet for most holidays at “the lake” where grandkids could run wild, fly high on the swings “Pop” built, learn to water ski, the art of a good hamburger and an even better prayer. The adults would enjoy coffee time in the mornings on the front porch of the cabin knowing that Pop was never too far away ready to top off every coffee mug in sight.
Finley Bandy will be missed by those he leaves behind, his wife, Geraldine (Gerry) Holloway Bandy, and his children, Alan (Nancy) Davenport of Newcastle, Ok., Randy (Teresa) of Hoover, Al., Steve (Meg) Bandy of Signal Mountain, Judy (George) Dodson of Murfreesboro, Tn., Tricia (Steve) Brown of Hixson, Kevin Bandy of Portland, Or., Jessica Harrison Bandy of Chattanooga. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren: Jason Davenport, Courtney Davenport, Randal Davenport, John Morgan Davenport, Finley (named after her grandfather) Bandy, Lake Bandy, Maddox Bandy, Griffin Dodson, Perry Dodson, Webb Dodson, Drake Dodson, Fisher Brown, Kirby Brown, Chapman Brown, Eddy Brown, Harrison Bandy, Porter Bandy, Beckett Bandy, and Cannon Bandy. All 19 will miss their Pop / PopPop, and all of whom thought he walked on water. Finley is also survived by sister-in-law Nancy Holloway Smith of Hixson, TN and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Mary Louise Bandy of Dayton, and his sister Orpha Hudson of Chattanooga.
Service to others was his calling, baseball was his sport and now heaven has a new center fielder.
Visitation will be held at Clear Creek Church of Christ on Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with funeral service to follow.
Flowers can be sent to Clear Creek Church of Christ or the family requests donations be given to Bible in the Schools, bibleintheschools.com.
Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services 4506 Hixson Pike, 423 531-3975.