Carl Anthony Labbe Jr.

Mr. Labbe was born in 1927, and his family was from Akron, Ohio. His father came to Chattanooga in 1935 with T.V.A. Carl attended Notre Dame grade school, O.L.P.H. grade school and Notre Dame High School. He served 1 ½ years in the Navy as the war ended. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Chattanooga and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Following a short employment with the U.S. Geological Survey in the Rocky Mountains, he returned to Chattanooga and began employment with the Dupont Company. He worked at Dupont Nylon Plant for 37 years as a development chemist, senior research chemist, development supervisor and senior planning specialist.

He married Dorothy Andrews in 1952 and had five children: Michelle (Frank) Repici, Julia (David) Mayfield, Angela (Oliver) Mayfield, Carl A. Labbe Ill and Thomas V. Labbe. He also leaves 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In civic work, Mr. Labbe served three years on the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Library Board of Directors, two of these three years on the Executive Board as Treasurer. He was named a Distinguished Chattanooga Citizen in 1980 for his work with high school students. He helped start the Chattanooga Dismas House for ex-prisoners, serving two terms as the initial president and fundraising chairman. He sang and played banjo with the "Old Time Singers" organization who entertained at homes for the elderly.

He was very active in Catholic Church work, served as Vice-President and President of the St. Jude Men's Club, Treasurer of the St. Jude Athletic Association and the St. Jude Boy Scout Council. He served on the Vocations Committee at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. He was very active in the Knights of Columbus Council 6099, serving several years as Lector for the organization and received the "Stumpy Serratore" Award for service to the Knight. He was a member of the East Tennessee Catholic Foundation for several years.

Mr. Labbe dedicated 13 years to support the Chattanooga Youth Organization, assisting in many trips to the National CYO Conventions and in the yearly "CYO" Show, directing eight of these, most at the Tivoli Theater. In later years he worked at area Catholic Youth functions, such as "Search" and summer camps. He taught as a substitute at all three Chattanooga Catholic Schools and helped with the Kindergarten Montessori Reading Program at O.L.P. H. for over 13 years. He received the coveted "Jim Phifer Award" for his work at Notre Dame High School.

Mr. Labbe joined the Serra Organization in 1986, a Catholic lay organization dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He served extensively in this organization as vice-president of programs and president of the local chapter, then District 18 Governor, later Region 5 director and on the United States-Canada board for two years. He served as a team leader on Vision 2000 committee and twice on the Serra International nominating committee.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Thursday August 7th at 12 pm. The family will be receiving friends on Wednesday evening at the funeral home from 6-8 pm with a Rosary Service being held prior at 5:30 pm. He will be laid to rest in the Hamilton Memorial gardens with his beloved wife, Dorothy.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Carl’s memory can be made to either OLPH Catholic Church or to the Notre Dame High School Building fund.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Carl at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd., East Ridge, TN., has been entrusted with the arrangements.