A Celebration of Life Open House will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Please join Dr. Ourth's family as we celebrate his remarkable life. Casual attire is requested.
On Monday, August 2, 2021, Dr. Lester Lynn Ourth went to Heaven. He passed
away peacefully in his home surrounded and embraced by his family. Born in
Nauvoo, Illinois on November 27, 1933, he shared his love, compassion and
extraordinary gifts for 87 years. In that time, he added immeasurable value to
the lives of so many people, which he considered to be his life’s work.
As a father to Scott (Heather), Stephanie Welch (Mel) and Susan Rodgers (Bill), he
gave the gift of unconditional love and lifelong lessons on how to live full and
impactful lives. There aren’t words to describe how much he was loved in return.
He was a role model for every aspect of life and their hero in every way. He
cherished being a grandfather to Megan, Sarah, Nicholas, Logan and Garrett and
great-grandfather to the apple of his eye, Elise.
As the consummate psychologist, he was endlessly interested in people, what
they thought, how they felt and how he could help them make their lives better.
He began preparation for that role by graduating from Graceland College in
Lamoni, Iowa and earning the Gold Seal for highest academic honors. He
proceeded to graduate third in his undergraduate class from the University of
Missouri in Columbia and earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from that
institution. Through the years, he used his education as a therapist, college
professor and organizational consultant.
As an educator, Dr. Ourth taught over 7000 undergraduate and graduate students
as a Professor of Psychology. This began at West Virginia University from 1962 to
1970 and continued at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1970 to
2014 when he retired as Professor Emeritus at the age of 81 years old. At that
time, he was pleased and honored to have a room in the Psychology Department
named for him. It is now called the Dr. Lynn Ourth Seminar Room. Among his
many accomplishments, he was selected as Professor of the Year numerous
times, conducted field altering research in psychology, wrote three textbooks,
created camps for children with autism and developed and lead the graduate
program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
As a man of deep faith, he was ordained to the office of Elder in the Community
of Christ Church at the age of sixteen. For several years, he pastored churches in
that denomination and was a lifelong member. For the past several years, he
loved attending Second Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga. There he served as
a Ruling Elder and Chaired the Mission Committee from 2018 to 2021. He often
served as worship liturgist and Sunday School facilitator. His most recent
contribution to the mission and ministry of Second Presbyterian was as a
consultant to provide the church with a comprehensive process for discerning its
future focus.
As a community leader, there are innumerable examples of his service and
devotion to the people around him. His parents, Arnold Ourth and Florence
Sanford Ourth taught him and his four brothers (Nick and John who preceded
him, his twin brother Lee and younger brother Alan who remain) that a life of
faith-based service is the greatest life one can live. In the last years of his life, he
was Co-Chair of the St. Matthew’s Emergency Shelter Committee and was proud
to serve on the Board of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
Dr. Ourth’s family is planning a Celebration of Life Open House when pandemic
conditions allow. It will be announced as soon as possible and will be held at
Second Presbyterian Church in Helwig Hall. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, his
family invites you to donate to the Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga,
the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, St. Matthew’s Emergency Shelter or the
deserving charity of your choice.
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