C.W. Wesson, 87, of Manchester, a proud member of the Greatest Generation, a proud Democrat and proud fan of the Crimson Tide, died peacefully Oct. 27.
He leaves behind those blessed to have loved him and to be loved by him; his cherished wife, Wilma; son, Mike (Linda) of Franklin; daughters, Ginger (Joel) Lehman of Smyrna; Jennifer (Vance) Brantley of Nashville; grandchildren Jack and Will Wesson, Cash Lehman, Robert and Rachel Brantley; and sisters Patty (Eddie) Brown of Ringgold, Ga., and Joy Wesson of San Miguel, Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chalmers R. and Ruby Lynn Pounders Wesson, and sister, Mae Evelyn White.
He was born Feb. 29, 1924, in the back of his grandmother’s grocery store in Florence, Ala. Like many of his generation, his family moved often, and he attended schools in Pontiac, Mich.; Gulfport, Ms.; Florence, Ala.; and Morristown.
He graduated from Ducktown High School in 1942. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942, and served in the South Pacific as an aviation electronics mate until his honorable discharge in 1946. After the war, he graduated from the Industrial Training Institute in Chicago, and became a construction electrician. In 1956, he moved to Manchester to work at Arnold Engineering Development Center as an instrument technician. He eventually became supervisor of the standards lab at before retiring from AEDC after 30 years. After retirement from AEDC, he became a court officer and deputy sheriff with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, where he served until December 2010.
He was a longtime member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and was a founding brother, president and business agent of Local 2113. A war-horse of the Democratic party, he was a longtime member and chairman of the Coffee County Democratic Executive Committee. He was also a Mason, a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Blues Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Funeral service was held Sunday, Oct. 30 at Manchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Revs. Mark Barron and Lyon Walkup officiating. Burial followed at Blues Hill Cemetery in Warren County.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Daniel Brantley Foundation, P.O. Box 250, Beech Grove, TN 37018, or the charity of your choice.
Central Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 2, 2011