Wayne was of Baptist Faith and a member of Fort Oglethorpe Baptist Church after being a member of New Haven Baptist for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years Joyce. They had four children, Terry (Sonja), Pam Akins (Mitchell), Monica Smith (James), and Keith, previously deceased, (Michelle). Wayne and Joyce had fourteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.
Wayne’s father passed away when he was 15 months old and he was raised by a kind Christian mother Thelma and his uncles who impressed on him a generous spirit even though they were very poor. He was taught to work hard and became a foundry worker for U. S. Pipe in Chattanooga for 30 years. During this time his technical expertise made him an industry leader. He further applied those skills when he worked for Porter Warner Industries providing solutions for his clients’ problems that resulted in a high achieving sales career. He also opened and ran Battlefield Sporting Goods store with his friend Charlie Cole.
His hobbies included travel, learning to fly his plane after retirement, fishing, and cheering on the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons. Wayne loved to tell stories and play jokes on family and friends. His favorite hobby was singing and from a young age he was in Gospel quartets. He sang his last solo at Church recently at age 91.
Wayne’s family is most proud of him for his incredible life of generosity and service. He spent many hours on the ballfields coaching all his children and other young men and women in baseball and softball. One of his Dixie Sr. teams won the World Series in 1980. As a proud member of the Alhambra Shrine, he spent many years raising funds to support the Children’s Hospital Ministry. He transported countless children back and forth and served on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati hospital. Locally he spent many hours visiting sick friends as they all aged. Another project of his was quietly collecting and delivering food to needy families in the area. He also learned to play the bagpipes in retirement and played for many area funerals.
The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 pm. Monday 3/2 at the East Brainerd Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home. Funeral service to follow at 2 pm. Burial will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens, Mausoleum Crypt.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Wayne’s name to the Alhambra Shrine Temple, 1000 Alhambra Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or www.alhambrashriners.com
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com
The arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
