Obituaries for June 20
George G. Tibbs, Jr.
George G. Tibbs,
Jr. passed away peacefully at UT
Medical Center during the morning
of Friday, June 14, 2024. He
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joins his beloved wife Jerri in Heaven, who passed away in January of 2023. George leaves behind son, David Brian and daughter-in-law, Kate Tibbs, who live in Shrewsbury, Vermont; four grandchildren of the heart, Rhen, Ryan, Cara and Kinsey Hughey of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and four brothers, Jack, John, Jim, and Joey Tibbs.
After honorably serving his country in the USAF, George worked his way up in the heavy equipment industry, eventually becoming part owner of Power Equipment Co. in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was an ardent supporter of the University of Tennessee Athletics, devout Christian, and an incredible Father and Grandfather. George was deeply loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
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A memorial service will be held at Hardin Valley Church of Christ, 11515 Hardin Valley Rd, in Knoxville, on Saturday, June 22, 2024, with Larry Cline and Bill McKissick officiating.
The family will welcome friends from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. with the service to follow at 3:00p.m.
Interment with military honors will be held at the East Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery, 2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy, in Knoxville, Monday, June 24, 2024, at 10:00a.m. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc. (865)6WECARE
(693-2273) www.cremationoptionsinc. com. George Tibbs, Jr.
January 8, 1942 - June 14, 2024
Patty M. Thurman Via
Patty M. Thurman Via, 85, of Newbern, Tennessee, died on Monday, June 17, 2024, at her long-term residence with family by her side.
Born Wednesday, May 3, 1939, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Curnie and Lucille Thurman. Mrs. Via was the loving wife of David Via for 64 years. She was a retired school teacher from the Dyer County School System where she taught for more than 25 years. Mrs. Via loved working in her yard taking care of her beautiful flowers and received the esteemed honor of Newbern’s Beauty Spot of the Month. She also enjoyed reading books in her sunroom, sewing, crocheting, and spending time with her family. She loved and cherished being “Nana,” to her grandkids and great grandkids.
Funeral services for Mrs. Via will be held at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at Fairview Cemetery in Newbern, Tennessee. Officiating this service will be Bro. Tyler Childress. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 PM until 4:45 PM at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, David Via of Newbern, Tennessee; one son, Jeff Via (Lora) of Newbern, Tennessee; one daughter, Susan Via McDowell of Farmington, Missouri; four grandchildren, Brittany Via of Farmington, Missouri, Nathan Stewart of Fredericktown, Missouri, Rodney Stewart of Marionville, Missouri, and Evan Via of Newbern, Tennessee; three great grandchildren, Zane and Rhett Stewart of Marionville, Missouri, and Jasper Stewart of Fredericktown, Missouri; two sisters, Jann Kallas (Rob) of Marietta, Georgia, and Jackie Stone (Ike) of Humboldt, Tennessee; two brothers Alvin (Lynda) Thurman of Dyersburg, Tennessee, and Doug Thurman of Destin, Florida.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Bette June Brandel.
Honoring Mrs. Via as pallbearers will be Randell Crenshaw, John Murray, Mark Crenshaw, Nathan Stewart, Rodney Stewart, and Evan Via.
Online condolences may be made to the family at johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Patty M. Thurman Via.
George H. Rice, Jr.
George H. "Sonny Brown" Rice, Jr., 83 of Dyersburg, Tennessee, died on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at AHC of Dyersburg in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Born Wednesday, February 12, 1941, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, he was the son of the late George Henderson Rice and the late Lucille Brown Rice Dalton. At a young age he moved to St Louis, Missouri to live with his uncle and aunt, Gus and Mary Brown Wisbar. He began his education in Missouri before returning to Dyersburg to live with his grandparents, J. E. and "Grandma" Brown. As he started high school he moved in with his mother and step-father, Lucille Brown Rice Dalton and Gordon Dalton. Mr. Rice worked many years for Hart's Bread and Wonder Bread before retiring from Bekaert. He was a member of Sorrell Chapel United Methodist Church. Mr. Rice was an avid hunter and fisherman and was proud to have held a State of Tennessee Lifetime Sportsman License. The times that he shared at Kentucky Lake and Gatlinburg , with his family, were always special memories to him.
Cremation services for Mr. Rice are under the direction of Johnson-Williams Funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife, Glenda Neal Rice of Dyersburg, Tennessee; one son, Roger Allen Rice of Dyersburg, Tennessee; one daughter, Susan Moore of Dyersburg, Tennessee; a daughter-by choice, Faith Wigdor of Dyersburg, Tennessee ; two grandchildren, Kristen Rice Henderson (Ryan) and Hunter Allen Rice and special niece, Kimberly Paige Neal.
He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Lucille Brown Rice Dalton and Gordon Dalton; father George Henderson Rice; grandparents, J. E. and "Grandma" Brown; uncle and aunt, Gus and Mary Brown Wisbar and his son-in-law, Wayne "Moose" Moore.
The family would like to say a special thank you to AHC for the care and kindness that was shown to their family.
The family ask that memorial contributions be directed to the Alzheimer and Brain Project, % Alzheimer's Association, P. O. Box # 96011, Washington, D. C. 20090-6011.
Online condolences may be made to the family at johnson-williamsfuneralhome.com. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of George Henderson "Sonny Brown" Rice, Jr.