Horace Pangle Grissom Jr.

Horace Pangle Grissom, 91, of South Knoxville, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. A graduate of Knoxville High School, Horace attended Knoxville Business College where he majored in accounting and minored in finance. He began his career with Park National Bank (now Regions) in 1955.

During his 44-year-banking career, Horace held several vice-presidential positions in various departments of the bank, retiring as Vice President and Real Estate Analyst for the Appraisal Review Division.

Horace also spent 46 years serving as a local agent for the Hotel Church Directory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For 33 years, he was a wholesale concession supervisor for the University of Tennessee’s Athletic Department, and he spent 32 years working security at the Tennessee Valley A & I Fair.

Upon retirement from banking, Horace found a new calling—education. For 11 years he served as a permanent substitute teacher at South-Doyle Middle School. The second calling he found was travel. He and his wife La Vada enjoyed multiple cruises over the years.

Seeking to occupy his time after the death of his beloved wife, Horace became a volunteer with the Knox County Museum of Education. He served there for 10 years, finally retiring at 90 years old.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife La Vada; parents, Horace Sr. and Azalee Grissom; and brother, Boyce McCorkle.

He leaves behind sons, Douglas (Tresha) Grissom, Scott (Geri) Grissom; daughters, April (Bill) Whitley, and Terry Lee Caruthers; sister, Nancy Grissom; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Horace’s memory to the Knox County Museum of Education, 801 Tipton Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920.

Family and friends will gather to honor the life and legacy of Horace at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, with a receiving of friends on Monday, June 2, 2025, from 5:00PM to 7:00PM, and a funeral service to follow at 7:00PM. Family and friends will meet at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920 for a committal service on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 10:00AM, Rev. Joe Chandler to officiate the services. Online condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.berryfuneralhome.com

Berry Funeral Home

3704 Chapman Highway

Knoxville, TN 37920

865-577-6666