Mr. John T. Batson Sr.

John T. (Tom) Batson, Sr. passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at the age of 90. He was in Knoxville at the time of his death. Tom was born in Clarksville, Tennessee on September 18, 1925, the middle son of five boys. After the tragic death of his father in 1940, he and his four brothers were raised by a very strong and determined mother who saw to it that each of them received college degrees. After graduating from Clarksville High School in 1942, Tom signed up for the military when the United States became involved in World War II. Because of his young age, however, Tom enrolled at Austin Peay State University, until he could actually enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps when he turned 18. After basic training, Tom received his commission as a Flight Officer and served as a navigator during the war. After the war ended, Tom was honorably discharged and enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and with the aid and assistance provided by the G.I. Bill, he graduated in 1948 with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. He immediately went to work for T.V.A., and in 1950 he left T.V.A. to start a private engineering firm with Richard Himes. The firm of Batson and Himes was established in 1950 and still exists today as Batson, Himes, Norvelle and Poe. After retiring in 1987, Tom built a home in Wears Valley. He loved the mountains and enjoyed painting the mountain scenes, pastural scenes and various landmarks in the Great Smoky Mountains area. Tom had a love of music and dancing that stayed with him all of his adult life. Well into his 80’s it was not unusual to hear him whistling a sweet melody. Tom was preceded in death by his father Horace Fred Batson, Sr.; his mother Kathleen Ricketts Batson; his wife of 53 years, Lucy Novelle Batson; and his daughter Mary Kathleen Monroe. Tom is survived by his brothers Robert R. Batson, Joseph B. Batson and Richard H. Batson; his son, John T. Batson, Jr. and wife Lisa; grandchildren John T. Batson, III, Matthew P. Batson, Edward C. Monroe, Jr. and wife Lori, Melissa Monroe Shelton and husband Jeremy, and great grandchildren; Megan, Mason and Matthew Monroe and Maia, Jakob, Samuel and Margaret Shelton. Tom’s family will receive friends on Thursday, February 18th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. A memorial service and burial will be held Friday, February 19th at Valley View Baptist Church in Wears Valley with Pastor Preston Joslin officiating at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Tom’s name may be made to: Wears Valley Ranch, 3601 Lyon Springs Road, Sevierville, TN 37862 www.wvr.org; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 355 Trane Dr., Knoxville, TN 37919 www.jdrf.org; or the Friends of the Smokies, 3099 Winfield Dunn Pkwy. #2, Kodak, TN 37764 www.friendsofthesmokies.org. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences at www.rosemortuary.com

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Mr. John T. Batson Sr.

September 18, 1925 - February 11, 2016