Thomas “Tom” Turner, Sr.
Thomas “Tom” Turner, Sr., 90, of Chattanooga, died peacefully and went to be with our Lord on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
Tom was born to the late Hubert and Louise Turner on September 4, 1934, in Birmingham, AL.
He married Martha Miller of Cleveland, Tn., in 1956 and they were married until her death in 1988. Later, he was married to Eleanor Turner for 31 years until her death in 2021.
Tom was an accomplished trumpet player: a multiple All-State High School Band 1st chair, a featured trumpet player with the Tennessee Tech marching and concert bands, as well as a part of The Troubadours (their jazz band) and several local dance bands.
A successful businessman, Tom worked for many years at Chattanooga Paper and Woodenware before leaving to found B & T International, Inc. With customers in many areas of the world, this became a profitable export brokerage. As the business grew, he hired long time coworker Patricia Cooke away from Chattanooga Paper and later added Tom Jr. as director of sales.
A devout Christian man, he lived as an example of Christianity to all those around him. As a customer in Singapore once said, “Tom is the most honest and honorable man I’ve ever met.” That was how he lived his whole life.
“Papa Tom” loved nothing more than hosting his family and friends at the lake house he built on Watts Bar Lake. Endless days of swimming, skiing, boating, fishing and kids sliding down the water slide on the dock were some of his most cherished memories.
Every Christmas since his children were young, Papa wrote rhyming clues and sent kids and adults alike on one of his infamous “scavenger hunts” in order for them to find their gifts. One year, all the participants were locked in a jail cell on Signal Mountain until the jailor was satisfied with our caroling and opened the cell! Such was his sense of humor, and we will all miss it sorely until we’re together again in the next life.
Survivors include his children, Tom Turner, Jr. (Sherry), Andy Turner, Doug Turner, David Abercrombie (Diane), Steve Abercrombie (Kristi), Kelly Abercrombie (Martha), and his brother Hubert “Buddy” Turner, his grandchildren, Laura, Tosh, Caitlin, Martha-Anne, Lanna, Trey, Lilly, and Gabe, his great-grandchildren Carter, Sadie, Ella, Sam, Josie, Ellie and Wren, nieces, nephews and a long host of friends.
Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road with a celebration of life service to follow at 4 p.m. with Rev. Ken Young (Dallas Bay Baptist) officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Tom’s favorite charities: Samaritan’s Purse or Tim Tebow Foundation
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.