Obituaries
Jerry Eugene Long, 76, LaFayette
Jerry Eugene Long, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017. He was 76.
Jerry was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 50 years, Shirley Chapman Long; son, Tony Long of LaFayette; sisters, Frances Cordell and Vicky Wallace both of LaFayette; brothers, Junior “Pappy” Long of Noble and Wayne Long of Chickamauga; grandchildren, Aaron Long, Brandon Long, Cassondra Long and Dawson Long; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Monday from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Tuesday, April 25, at 2 p.m. from the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Min. Tommy Pettyjohn officiating.
Burial: LaFayette Memory Gardens.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Robert Lee Jenkins, 43, Chickamauga
Robert Lee Jenkins, of Chickamauga, Ga., passed away Monday, April 24, 2017. He was 43.
A native of LaFayette, Robert was born April 15, 1974.
He found great pleasure in being outdoors; fishing was without a doubt his favorite pastime.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Edward Jenkins.
Survivors include: daughter, Rosa Jenkins; mother, Bonnie Robinson Jenkins; brother, Bobby Jenkins; nephew, Justin Jenkins all of LaFayette and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation: Friday, from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Friday, April 28, at 6 p.m. from the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel. No interment. Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Ronald “Ron” Edward Brock, 82, LaFayette
Ronald “Ron” Edward Brock, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Monday, April 24, 2017. He was 82.
Ron was a 1952 graduate of LaFayette High School. Following graduation Ron served his country during the Korean War. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Berea College in Berea, KY. Ron retired with T.V.A. where he was the personnel director over the Nuclear Power Division.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe where he was an ordained deacon and longtime Sunday school teacher.
He was an avid golfer, enjoyed coaching youth football and softball and was part of the prison ministry. He received an award from United Way for running a highly effective fundraising campaign.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, F.L. “Dink” Brock and Hazel Williams Brock; and brother, Bill Brock.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 62 years, Tommie Wilbanks Brock; daughter, Mary Jane Denton of LaFayette; two sons, Ron (Kellye) Brock of Nashville and Michael (Laura Ann) Brock of Williamson, Ga.; brother, Bob (Sue) Brock of Blue Ridge, Ga.; grandchildren, Mick Brock, Annie Laura Brock, Adam Brock, Jason Brock, Ben Brock, Nathan Denton and Jered Denton; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Sunday from 2-5 p.m. and on Monday from noon until time of service at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Monday, May 1, at 2 p.m. from the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jason Thomas officiating.
Burial: LaFayette City Cemetery.
Pallbearers: will be family.
Honorary pallbearers: the Builders Sunday school class of the First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House 200 Central Ave, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37403.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Harold R. Bleuler, 86
Harold R. Bleuler, 1930-2017, passed away peacefully April 24, 2017, due to pneumonia. He was 86.
He was born May 5, 1930, in Dalton, Ohio to Harry Bleuler and Edith Bleuler Robinson.
He graduated Washington Union High School, Massillon, Ohio in 1948 and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1957. He worked much of his life as a chemical engineer at U.S. Gypsum Company, Kelly-Moore Paints and Murco Wall Products.
Harold was a veteran of the Korean War, serving from 19501953. Before being stationed in Korea, he was assigned to the Signal Corp. He would humorously tell the story of having to drive up treacherous mountain roads to a relay station to pass on intelligence reports. His greatest fear was that he would arrive at the station, forget his password and be shot by an MP!
Harold married Leola Ringley Bleuler in 1955. After a brief time in Toledo and Chicago, they lived most of their lives in Irving, Texas. She preceded him in death in 2010. Harold spent his last three years in Lookout Valley, Tenn. His hobbies were reading, photography, hiking and camping, gardening and working out at the YMCA. He was a lifelong learner and enjoyed discussing politics, religion and philosophy. He made a profession of faith in Christ in 2017.
Survivors include: daughter, Cindy Bleuler Tucker, sonin-law, Tony Tucker of Lookout Mountain, Ga.; granddaughter, Leighanne Tucker Moreland, grandsonin-law, Ryan Moreland; great-granddaughter, Lila Kate Moreland, of Hixson, Tenn. and son Ken Bleuler, and daughter-in-law, Maureen Shields Bleuler of Frisco, Texas.
Graveside service: Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m at Brookfield Cemetery in Massillon, Ohio.
In lieu of sending flowers, donations may be mailed to Bethany Christian Services, 930 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tenn. 37403. If writing a check, please write “Harold Bleuler” in the memo. Donations may also be made online at bethany. org. Under Give, please specify in memory of Harold Bleuler and the Chattanooga, Tenn. location.
Online guestbook available at paquelet. com.
Arrangements: Paquelet & ArnoldLynch Funeral Home in Massillon.
Twila Jean Johnson, 79, Rock Spring
Twila Jean Johnson, of Rock Spring. Ga., passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017. She was 79.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford Johnson and Gladys Whitner Johnson.
Survivors include: two sisters, Christine Parker of LaFayette and Gladys Anderson of Summerville; several nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews.
Visitation: Sunday from 2 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Sunday, April 23, at 4 p.m. in the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jeremy Neal officiating.
Burial: Bryan Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made at the funeral home to help with expenses.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Agnes Paulette Oliver, 95 LaFayette
Agnes Paulette Oliver, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017. She was 95.
She was the oldest member of LaFayette Church of God.
Agnes enjoyed spending time in her flower garden and quilting.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Oliver; parents, James Harvey Johnson and Margaret Kitchens Johnson; several sisters and one brother.
Survivors include: Her niece and caretaker, Paulette Lamb of LaFayette; several nieces and nephews; several greatnieces and nephews and several great-greatnieces and nephews.
Visitation: Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Saturday, April 29, at 3 p.m. from the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Josh Edwards and Pastor Kenneth Oliver officiating.
Burial: LaFayette City Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Kenneth Franklin Brown, 77, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Kenneth Franklin Brown, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017, in a local hospital. He was 77.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: Lane Funeral Home & Crematory – South Crest Chapel, Rossville.
Marvel Winfield Tinker, 97, Lookout Valley, Tenn.
Marvel Winfield Tinker, 97, of Lookout Valley, Tenn., passed away at his home Tuesday, April 25, 2017. He was 97.
Marvel was the fifth of seven children born to Winfield Scott and Katie Doss Tinker of Bridgeport, Ala.
He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1939 and briefly worked for the Bridgeport News Herald before joining the Army Air Corps. During World War II, he served as a bomber mechanic, supporting the advancing Allied Forces through Egypt, Tunis, Sicily, and Italy. Upon returning to the states, he moved to Chattanooga where he met his beloved wife of 66 years, Laura Sabin. Each was working in sales, Marvel, at Loveman’s and Laura, at Miller Bros. Shortly after the 1948 opening of DuPont in Chattanooga, Marvel became an employee of the nylon plant until retirement 33 years later. He was among the loyal band of former DuPont electrical workers who met yearly. Marvel was active in retirement, serving as a deacon, then elder at the Central Church of Christ and running Tinker Catering jointly with his wife. Over the years, Marvel doted on his children and grandchildren spending many hours supervising homework, chaperoning field trips and watching the kids play a sport or perform at a concert. He will be fondly remembered by all.
Marvel was preceded in death by his wife, Laura; parents, Scott and Katie and five siblings; Kendrick Tinker, Alex Tinker, Drucilla Stall, Jeff Tinker and Yvonne Hoback.
Survivors include: His sister, Jimmie Cash and two daughters, Marianne (Bill) Helton and Cindy (Barton) Close. He has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel.
Funeral service: Friday, April 28, at 11 a.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Minister David Schonhoff officiating.
Burial: Lakewood Memory Gardens, West with full military honors.
Pallbearers: Walter Close, Cavin Helton, Gerald Helton, Jerry Tinker, Robert Tinker, Steve Tinker, Chris Tinker and Greg Tinker.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com. Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge.
William “Cowboy” Ricketts, 88, Chattanooga, Tenn.
William “Cowboy” Ricketts, 88 of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He was 88.
He was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area and was previously employed with T.V.A. for many years.
Cowboy enjoyed fishing and hunting, loved spending time with his dog and feeding the birds. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be truly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Gertie Ricketts; loving wife, Mary Lou Ricketts; grandson, Jessie Lee Ricketts and granddaughter, Rebecca Richelle Ricketts.
Survivors include: His children, Helen Thurmond of Tiftonia, Tenn., James and Shelia Ricketts of Ringgold, Ga., Jerry Ricketts of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Connie Ricketts, Mary Duffey and Roy Ricketts all of Chattanooga, Tenn.; brother, Jimmy Ricketts of SoddyDaisy, Tenn.; numerous grandchildren; numerous greatgrandchildren and extended family and friends.
Visitation: Friday from 5-8 p.m. and prior to leaving for the cemetery on Saturday.
Graveside service: Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. in the Lakewood South Memorial Gardens with Pastor Tom Davis officiating.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe.