Richard Thomas Auten
Richard Thomas Auten, passed into his eternal rest on April 5, 2025, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He was born on May 12, 1944, to Donald Thomas Auten and Pat Levison Auten in Wichita Falls, Texas. When World War II concluded, The Auten family returned to Chattanooga where Richard attended Missionary Ridge Elementary and graduated from the McCallie School in 1962. He continued his education at UTC and UTK where he attained a B.S in Psychology. His interest in the development of the mind led to his attaining a M.S. in Educational Psychology in1968.
He returned to Chattanooga to be employed as a psychological examiner with Hamilton County Schools. He later joined the staff of Team Evaluation Center, a multidisciplinary nonprofit agency, as a psychological examiner assessing the educational needs of children in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia for the next 36 years until his retirement.
Richard was a man of great faith who was a member of First Christian Church, Chattanooga, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and Elder. It was his greatest joy to share his faith with friends and neighbors and he lead a weekly outdoor bible study and worship at his home during the recent pandemic.
Upon retirement he enrolled in Hamilton County Master Gardener classes and participated in volunteer opportunities throughout Chattanooga to install and maintain gardens both ornamental and vegetable at Chattanooga Food Bank, First Christian Church, and the Farm at Hampton Meadows.
When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, he became a member of Rock Steady Boxing at the Cleveland Family YMCA. He was an enthusiastic participant in encouraging others to “Never Give Up.”
Richard is survived by his wife of 55 years, Emily Auten, son, Thomas W. (Gina Liberto) and his sons, Harrison and Finn; daughter, Elizabeth P. Auten and her son, Skyler Hodges; sisters, Susan Auten (Phil) Newman and Candace Auten Anderson; sister-in-law, Elizabeth B.Sanders; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 10, from 12-1 p.m. in the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. A celebration of life will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel with John Moeller Jr. officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family wished to suggest memorial gifts be made to McCallie School at: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/14596/donations/new and or Mercy Ships at: https://www.mercyships.org/
Please share your thoughts and memories at: www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 8214 East Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.