Donald Winston Fish

A Nashville native, he graduated from David Lipscomb High School and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Brunswick, Georgia. During a visit home, he met his future wife Sally on a blind date. They were married for 67 years, until her death last December.

After discharge from the Navy, he worked for a cement company in Allentown, PA, until his wife encouraged him to study law. He graduated from Vanderbilt Law School, worked for Life of Georgia in Atlanta, and following a recommendation from a former professor, in 1969 joined the start-up company Hospital Corporation of America in a rented house in Nashville. He served as its first general counsel and secretary of the board of directors, helping grow the company for 25 years. Subsequently, he joined the Waller law firm for several years, before retiring.

A longtime member of the West End Church of Christ, he served as an elder for over 30 years. He was also on the board of trustees of Lipscomb University and AGAPE Nashville. As an amateur pilot, he flew for decades and volunteered for LifeLine Pilots, transporting passengers with medical needs in his own airplane. He was a Williamson County commissioner and also a trustee of the Bill Wilkerson Center, facilitating its merger with Vanderbilt Medical Center in 1997.

Upon retirement, his main passions were the church, photography, boating, St. Simons Island, and most of all his beloved wife, family, and friends. Eloquent, ethical, with a wry sense of humor and broad command of language, he maintained an integrity and wisdom throughout his life. A quintessential gentleman, his presence grounded the room, wherever he was.

He is survived by his two children, Debra (Carol McCullough) and Don Jr.; his granddaughters, Amelia and Evelyn; his two sisters, Marian Ezell (Roy) and Martha Fish; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will host a visitation at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Saturday, June 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a 12:30 p.m. graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to AGAPE Nashville or a charity of your choosing.