Wendell L. Rawls Sr.

The cause of death was a severe stroke, according to his daughter, Carole R. Waller.

Mr. Rawls joined DuPont at its Old Hickory, Tenn., operations prior to World War II when the facility produced rayon textile fibers and cellophane near Nashville. When the U.S. entered the war, the plant also produced gun powder.

In 1950, shortly after the company opened the nylon fibers plant in Chattanooga, he was transferred and over the ensuing three decades he was promoted into a variety of management positions before retiring in 1980. He was known for 10-hour days, always arriving an hour early and leaving at least an hour late.

His life was dedicated to three things: his family, his faith and his work. He was an extraordinarily devoted member of the Red Bank United Methodist Church, holding every board and committee chairmanship at some point in his 65 years at the institution. At his death he was chairman of the finance committee, a position he had occupied for several years.

Born Wendell Lee Rawls in 1917 in a rural part of Robertson County, north of Nashville. He was the second of seven children born to John Frank and Edna Caroline Rawls, and the oldest son. All of them preceded him in death.

In 1940, he wed Madolyn Murphy, also of rural Robertson County. They were married for almost 70 years before she died in 2010. She was a renowned cook and caterer, he was a voracious reader and sports fan, and they were avid square dancers, performing in several venues in the Southeast.

After he retired, they traveled throughout Europe, in Asia and the Holy Lands. They produced prodigious vegetable gardens, annually attended the Masters golf tournament, and delighted in their grandchildren and great grandchildren. And they were dedicated fans of the Vanderbilt Commodores, Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves.

In addition to his daughter Carole, who resides at Signal Mountain, Tenn., with her husband Robert C. Waller, Mr. Rawls is survived by his son, Wendell Lee Rawls. Jr. (Kathryn [Katie] Stark Rawls); four grandchildren and their families: Robert C. (Chip) Jr., and Joey Pociask Waller and their son Maxwell Glenn Waller, of Cumming, Ga.; Wendell Blake and Dori Thornton Waller and their daughter Dorothy Madolyn Waller, of Chattanooga; Amanda C. Rawls, of Washington, D.C.; and Matthew B. and Megan Villalobos Rawls and their daughters Dylan Kathryn and Sloane Stark Rawls of Los Angeles. He is also survived by scores of nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.

A visitation is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Red Bank United Methodist Church.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the church.

A private burial service for family members will be at Hamilton Memorial Gardens at 1 p.m. Saturday, preceding the memorial service.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson