Lester Ourth
On Monday, August 2, 2021, Dr. Lester Lynn Ourth went to heaven. He passed away peacefully in his home surrounded and embraced by his family.
Born in Nauvoo, Illinois on November 27, 1933, he shared his love, compassion and extraordinary gifts for 87 years. In that time, he added immeasurable value to the lives of so many people, which he considered to be his life’s work.
As a father to Scott (Heather), Stephanie Welch (Mel) and Susan Rodgers (Bill), he gave the gift of unconditional love and lifelong lessons on how to live full and impactful lives. There aren’t words to describe how much he was loved in return.
He was a role model for every aspect of life and their hero in every way. He cherished being a grandfather to Megan, Sarah, Nicholas, Logan and Garrett and great-grandfather to the apple of his eye, Elise.
As the consummate psychologist, he was endlessly interested in people, what they thought, how they felt and how he could help them make their lives better. He began preparation for that role by graduating from Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa and earning the Gold Seal for highest academic honors. He proceeded to graduate third in his undergraduate class from the University of Missouri in Columbia and earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from that institution. Through the years, he used his education as a therapist, college professor and organizational consultant.
As an educator, Dr. Ourth taught over 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students as a professor of Psychology. This began at West Virginia University from 1962 to 1970 and continued at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1970 to 2014 when he retired as Professor Emeritus at the age of 81. At that time, he was pleased and honored to have a room in the Psychology Department named for him. It is now called the Dr. Lynn Ourth Seminar Room. Among his many accomplishments, he was selected as Professor of the Year numerous times, conducted field altering research in psychology, wrote three textbooks, created camps for children with autism and developed and lead the graduate program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
As a man of deep faith, he was ordained to the office of elder in the Community of Christ Church at the age of 16. For several years, he pastored churches in that denomination and was a lifelong member. For the past several years, he loved attending Second Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. There he served as a ruling elder and Chaired the Mission Committee from 2018 to 2021. He often served as worship liturgist and Sunday School facilitator. His most recent contribution to the mission and ministry of Second Presbyterian was as a consultant to provide the church with a comprehensive process for discerning its future focus.
As a community leader, there are innumerable examples of his service and devotion to the people around him. His parents, Arnold Ourth and Florence Sanford Ourth taught him and his four brothers (Nick and John who preceded him, his twin brother Lee and younger brother Alan who remain) that a life of faith-based service is the greatest life one can live. In the last years of his life, he was Co-Chair of the St. Matthew’s Emergency Shelter Committee and was proud to serve on the Board of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
Dr. Ourth’s family is planning a Celebration of Life Open House when pandemic conditions allow. It will be announced as soon as possible and will be held at Second Presbyterian Church in Helwig Hall. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, his family invites you to donate to the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, St. Matthew’s Emergency Shelter or the deserving charity of your choice.