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- [S16] Obituary.
June 2, 1920 - January 12, 2011
Rev. Leslie Eugene (Gene) Varner, 90, of Soddy Daisy, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at a nursing facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Born June 2, 1920 to Fred A. and Alice Varner, he lived in Soddy Daisy all but the last year of his life. He loved Soddy Daisy and all friends and family with all his heart. Loved by all as a Baptist pastor he taught and preached the word of God until he was 85 years of age. He pastored at the following Baptist churches, South Soddy, Union Fork, Sale Creek, Apison, Harrison, Signal Bluff, Tremont and Mowbray along with others. He preached and taught Sunday School classes at Pilgrim’s Rest, Daisy First and Oak Street Baptist Church. He was a veteran of World War II in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Air Force as part of the crew of a B17 Flying Fortress named Elaine. He was a gunner and radio operator with a crew who flew 50 bombing missions over Europe. Through the years he was a member of the Soddy Lions Club, Soddy Masonic Lodge # 418 F & AM, American Legion, VFW and the Tennessee Southern Baptist Association. Rev. Varner was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Jack (Irene) and Ted, Cleo (Hilda); four sisters, Jane (Paul) Spivey, Mona Sue (Bill) Mickey, Margaret (Roy) Purser and Betty (Ed) Hargis along with several nieces and nephews.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of 67 years Anna Ruth Stout Varner; daughter, Peggy Parker Smith (Garland Hughes); granddaughter, Sherri (Randy) Miller; great grandchildren, Parker and Preston Steger and Kirsten Miller; brother, Clay (Elaine) Varner of California; sister, Faye Darby Bledsoe of Missouri; devoted sister-in-law, Mary Lou Poe (Bobby) Wilson; other beloved brothers and sisters-in-law; Sonny and Ruby Stout, Pat Varner and Imogene Stout along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
A celebration of his life and home going will be Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Street Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Miller leading the service. Rev. Varner will lie in state 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, Habitat for Humanity in Soddy Daisy or a charity of your choice.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com. Arrangements are by Williamson & Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike; Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379.
- [S15] Hamilton County Pioneers, John Wilson, (BookCrafters, (c) 1998), Page 305.
- [S137] Hamilton County Tennessee Marriage Records, Hamilton County Clerk's Office, (https://secure2.hamiltontn.gov/CClerk/Marriage_License/PublicScreens/LicenseSearch.aspx).
Date Married: 9/4/1909 Book: 011 Page: 432 License: 18782
Groom Information
Name (FML): FRED VARNER
Address: County: HAMILTON Birthplace:
City/State/Zip: TN
Bride Information
Name (FML): ALICE GRANT
Address: County: HAMILTON Birthplace:
City/State/Zip: TN
Officiant Name: A. N. SMITH, MINISTER
- [S137] Hamilton County Tennessee Marriage Records, Hamilton County Clerk's Office, (https://secure2.hamiltontn.gov/CClerk/Marriage_License/PublicScreens/LicenseSearch.aspx).
Date Married: 8/7/1943 Book: 042 Page: 147 License: 00440
Groom Information
Name (FML): LESLIE EUGENE VARNER
Address: NOT RECORDED County: HAMILTON Birthplace:
City/State/Zip: SODDY TN
Bride Information
Name (FML): RUTH STOUT
Address: NOT RECORDED County: HAMILTON Birthplace:
City/State/Zip: SODDY TN
Officiant Name: EUGENE NIX, MINISTER
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1920 - 2011 (90 years)
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