An overflow crowd of family and friends of John T. “Jack” Lupton packed the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain this afternoon to pay their last respects to Mr. Lupton, who died Sunday at age 83.
Mr. Lupton, who once headed Coca-Cola’s largest bottling empire, was eulogized by Rev. John D. Tailbird for the generosity of both his public and private life.
Mr. Lupton was remembered by most Chattanoogas for being the driving force behind building the Tennessee Aquarium, revitalizing downtown Chattanooga and building a world-class Honors Course for amateur golf in Ooltewah.
Mr. Lupton, the grandson of one of three Chattanoogans who gained the bottling rights for Coca-Cola in 1899, build his family’s Coke bottling empire into the world’s biggest before selling the business in 1986 and netting $1.2 billion.
Rev. Tailbird said Mr. Lupton used his fortune to help reshape the hometown that he loved.