George Kerr
George Thomas Kerr, 92, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, died on Friday night, October 24, 2014 at his home.
He was the son of George Thomas Kerr and Mary F. Kerr. He was born in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 16, 1922. He graduated from Durham High School and attended North Carolina State University until he was called to duty in the United States Air Force. He was a bombardier stationed in Belford, England when he flew 35 missions over Germany in a B17 with the 8th Air Force. The same crew flew together and they all returned to the U.S. safely.
After returning home, he graduated from Duke University in 1948 with a degree in business administration. He spent a number of years in New York doing consulting also as an executive with Eaton Corporation in Westchester County, N.Y.
He joined Buster Brown in 1972 as director of Personnel and Industrial Relations. He worked closely with the United Way as a panelist with its Pilot Program. He was one of the first chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Satellite Operations.
Upon retirement in 1987, George served on the board of Senior Neighbors for several years as well as being active as a Score consultant.
He was an avid golfer, tennis player and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He was a member of Lookout Mountain Golf Club, Fairyland Club and the Church of the Good Shepherd. He and Rita had a great marriage for 31 years, they traveled all over the world.
George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Mary Kerr; daughter, Mary Diane Hudson and his first wife, Martha Wallace Kerr.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Fillauer Kerr; son, George Thomas Kerr III (Donna) of Orangeburg, S.C.; daughter, Deborah Kerr Lucas of Atlanta; Melanie Landers, Dr. C. Mel Wilcox (Kim) of Birmingham, and Deborah Wilcox Tillard of Chattanooga; 13 grandchildren, Matthew Kerr, P.H.D., Michael Kerr, Mel Wilcox, Jr., Nicki Barrington (Dr. David), Michael Conrad Landers, Claybourne Bishop Landers, Ethan Lucas, Martha Lucas, Dr. Catherine Fisher (Dr. Jeremy), Will Hudson III and Sara Elizabeth Tillard, and eight nieces and nephews in North Carolina.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of The Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, immediately followed by a visitation/celebration with the family in the Talbird Parish Hall. The Reverends Robert Childers and Sam Payne will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416, Metropolitan Ministries, 1112 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404, Chambliss Center for Children, 315 Gillespie Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411 or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423 821-7551.
Share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.