Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Richard Blackshear, 81, of Red Bank, passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Tom was born in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 27, 1934. He grew up in Chattanooga, with his mother, Kathleen Blackshear, and her husband, Blake Hall and his brother, Kenneth Hall. He graduated from Red Bank High School in 1953. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University, with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration in 1957. He joined the United States Army in 1957. He continued to serve our Country in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1985 retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He received his M. B. A. degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1968. He attended U. S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1974. He was married to Valerie Jean Harris in 1957 until her passing in 1982. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Thomas, Jr. and Stephen. Tom worked for 3M Company as an (1959-1966) and Smith Kline and French Pharmaceuticals in product management and sales (1966-1983). He taught at Chattanooga State Community College (1983-1985), Associated Professor of Business at Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, Tenn., (1986-1999). In 1993, while teaching at LMU, he received his Doctorate of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. While teaching at LMU, Tom began his Ministerial Studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., completing his studies in 1996. He served as Pastor of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Jasper, Tenn., from 1996-1999. He also taught at Tennessee Weslyan College from 1999-2001. He served as pastor of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Decatur, TN (1999-2008). Tom married Bobbie Brown in 1988, adding three adult stepchildren to the family. Tom and Bobbie both retired from teaching in 2001 and traveled extensively until Tom's health began to decline. Tom received many honors some of which were: Induction into the Red Bank High School Hall of Fame in 2003, Distinguished Citizen of the City of Chattanooga, Who's Who in the South, Pi Kappa Delta Honorary Speech Society, Pi Sigma Epsilon Honorary Marketing Society, and Pi Omega Pi Honorary Business Society. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Bobbie; his two sons, Thomas Blackshear, Jr., of Anna Maria Island, Fla., and Stephen (Barbara) Blackshear, of Pensacola, Fla.; his brother, Kenneth (Wanda) Hall, of Chattanooga; stepdaughters, Laura Anne (Keith) Walter and Vicki Wigington; stepson, Charles (Deanna) Wigington and eight grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. today, at the funeral home. The celebration of Tom's life will be at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Lane Funeral Home on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. Burial will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Red Bank United Methodist Church Youth Group. The family has entrusted Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace with the arrangements, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37415. www.lanefh.com