Diane Reed Wirz
Diane Reed Wirz, born in Anniston, AL on July 30, 1940, entered the gates of Heaven on March 16, 2023 at the age of 82.
Diane was married to the love of her life, the late Paul Otto Wirz for almost 62 years. Diane is survived by her three children: Paula Wirz Snead (Kevin), Derek T. Wirz (Tracey), Cara Wirz Sandlin (Scott). Her grandchildren: Samuel Paul Sandlin (Sarah), Jacob Reed Wirz (Macall), Grayson Will Snead, Madeline “Madie” Wirz, Carly Scott “Scottie” Sandlin, and Sara Grace Snead. Diane is preceded in death by her parents, Huey and Irene Reed, and her sister, Patricia Bedells. Diane, along with her late husband, Paul, believed there was no greater joy than their children and grandchildren.
When Diane was seven, her mother was paralyzed in a car accident. Alongside her father, a Baptist Minister, Diane learned her gift as a caregiver after that accident. This inspired a career in nursing that helped provide for her family. Diane was a graduate of Oxford High School in 1958 and a graduate of Birmingham Baptist School of Nursing where she received her R.N. Following nursing school, she moved to Baltimore, MD where she worked for Johns Hopkins Hospital and started her family. Following Johns Hopkins, she worked in Atlanta, GA and then on to Chattanooga where she found her passion in psychiatric nursing. The most enjoyable years in her career were spent at Valley Psychiatric Hospital.
Above all, Diane loved. She loved her husband, Paul, their three children and her “grands.” She was always interested in everyone’s activities. Diane enjoyed church worship and was faithful and dependent in her Lord, Jesus Christ. She worshipped throughout the years at Concord Baptist, Brainerd Hills Baptist, Woodland Park Baptist, and Ridgedale Baptist Church. Her faith was ever present in her home where you would often hear the songs of Bill Gaither worship, Janet Paschal and Karen Peck. It was in her home she led her three children through the steps of salvation and asked her children to go out and spread the great news. She enjoyed simple things in life alongside her husband, a great conversation with her family, a great cup of coffee, a Sunday drive, or an afternoon nap.
Diane will be memorialized in a private family service on March 19, at Ridgedale Baptist Church with the Reverend Doug Plumlee residing. Later, there will be a private memorial service at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Ridgedale Baptist Church, marked senior ministry and home bound ministry fund. The family would like to thank Ridgedale Baptist Church for their ministry to their parents the past 15 months.
Thanks be to God for the life of Diane Reed Wirz. Child of God, Bride to Paul, Mother, Nana, Mimi, Aunt, Cousin and friend. A life well lived and described as a Proverbs 31 lady.
Please visit www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com to share your thoughts and memories of Diane.
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.