John Michael “Tim” Champlin
John Michael “Tim” Champlin left this earth and went to be with family and friends in heaven on October 24, 2024, at the age of 87.
“He done his damndest.” These final words, on an old west tombstone, were discovered and recalled while doing research for one of his many western novels.
He was born on Oct 11, 1937, in Fargo, ND to John Burnla Champlin and Elizabeth Hushaw Champlin. He was the second child of five children. His father was a large animal veterinarian working for the USDA, which required him to move every couple of years. Some of those locations were Lincoln, NE, Jefferson City, MO, Phoenix, AZ, eventually settled in Nashville, TN in 1955. He moved to Fort Oglethorpe, GA in 2012 to be closer to family.
His formative years were spent in Lincoln, NE, entertaining himself with flaming arrows, seining for minnows at a nearby creek, and digging foxholes in the side yard. He grew up in a time of radio in the depression and claimed later in life that he missed out on his share of bacon during the war, and he was trying to make up for the loss at Sunday brunch. He owned at least 9 sailboats over the years. He enjoyed the solitude of being out on the lake and riding his bike through the Chickamauga Battlefield.
He graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in Phoenix, AZ and immediately moved to Nashville, TN in 1955. He attended Vanderbilt University for a short time before being encouraged to enroll elsewhere. He graduated from Middle TN State College with a degree in English. At 17 he enlisted in the Navy Reserves where he spent 8 years serving while going to college. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Peabody College, now part of Vanderbilt. He worked for 30 years for the Veterans Administration in Nashville before retiring. He loved to write and sold and published his first western novel in 1984. He would go on to publish 44 novels, mostly historical fiction, and just as many articles in various magazines from Sailing to American Way. To this day, a shelf is labeled with his name at the local McKay’s used books in Chattanooga. A quick Google search is very revealing of his writings. He loved to read, was full of obscure knowledge and was a deeply humble man. He was a devout Catholic and never forgot the golden rule to love thy neighbor as thy self. He rarely spoke a word of unkindness about anyone. He was a living example of Live and Let live.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Elizabeth Champlin of Lawrenceville GA, His sister Shirley Kelly of Tucson, AZ, sister Rene Bundy, and brother Patrick Champlin of Nashville.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years Ellen Hosey Champlin, sister Peggy Tyndall of Phoenix, AZ, son Kenneth Champlin (Angela Turner), grandchildren Ruby, Brennan, Susanah, Alice Champlin and son Christopher Champlin (Jane) Abigail (Cal) Burton, great grandchildren Maggie and Jack, grandchildren Sawyer Champlin, Spencer Sutton, Trent Sutton, Paul Champlin, Mary Champlin. He is also survived by his best friend of 68 years Kenneth Donnelly of Nashville and son in law Patrick Tiedemann of Lawrenceville, GA.
His funeral Mass will be held at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Nashville, TN on Friday November 8, 2024, at 12 pm. Visitation with family and friends will be at 11:30am. He will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville immediately following.