Luther Elbert Gatlin, Jr.

As a 17 yr old, Lou enlisted to fight in WWII, becoming a member of the US Coast Guard. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Memphis to finish high school. He graduated from Treadwell High School, and later from Memphis State University (1950) with a BS in both psychology and history. Subsequently, he had a short-lived career in Truman, ARK, where he was a history teacher and a coach.

Lou married the love of his life, Mattie Ruth Bell, March 8,1952.

She was his strength, his soul mate, throughout his well-lived life. The hallmark of Lou’s career was his owning and operating a seven store operation, Ace Appliance Company which became the last independently owned chain of appliance stores in America. Always civic-minded, Lou served as a Great Books Foundation leader at what was then Southwestern College, and served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Park Ave Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Later, he founded and became president of Highland Heights Optimist Club, served as Chairman of the Better Business Bureau’s Board of Directors, was a member of the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, and was on the Board of MART magazine.

An award winning businessman, Lou, was particularly proud of his work as the president of NARDA, National Appliance Retail Dealers of America, and of his being featured in the Wall Street Journal as well as many other publications.

A remarkable man, Lou never considered anyone a stranger, genuinely loved people, had an infectious laugh and a famous sense of humor. Story-telling was his gift, as was making others feel valued whether at the Kroger, Smith’s Physical Therapy Clinic, the snack bar at Galloway Golf Course, or the local Walgreens. Mr. Gatlin loved to regale all with his self written corny jokes or his many tales. Many are indelibly imprinted like the story of Elvis’s early days when his musicians worked at the Ace Appliance Store on Summer Ave. and asked for time off to play the Opry with Elvis for the first time (an unmitigated disaster), or of Elvis’s calling for a new television set because, yet again, he’d demolished another due to the television appearance of Robert Goulet, a man Elvis despised. His Johnny Cash stories were also colorful as was his knowledge of Memphis from the Depression Era days to the present. A patriot, Lou loved this country, loved freedom for each individual enshrined in our founding documents, and believed in America as the greatest country on Earth.

Undaunted by age, he acquired his professional golf license at 80. Golf was his passion, and he won many tournaments, and made many friends along his golf journey which was started by his caddying in MS while dreaming of the days when he’d be able to afford to play.

Lou leaves his wife, Ruth, his three daughters: Linda Gatlin, Sandra Gatlin King (Mark), and Janice Gatlin Stacy (Jimmy). AKA Papoo, Lou adored his grandchildren: Heather Marie Downes, Samuel Gatlin Pascale, and Hallie Grace Pascale.

Visitation will be held at Memphis Funeral Home on Monday, Dec. 7 at 1:00 followed by a funeral in the chapel at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Memphis Union Mission.