John W. Rawlston, Sr.

John W. Rawlston, Sr.

John W. Rawlston, Sr., 89, passed away at his residence in Sale Creek on Nov. 26, 2018.

John was known as the Voice of the Trojans, serving as announcer at Soddy Daisy High School football games for 50 years. He also announced baseball and basketball games at the school for many years. He helped develop the Soddy Daisy Quarterback Club and was inducted into the Soddy Daisy Hall of Fame.

He retired from DuPont after 36 years. He also worked in car sales for many years, and was named Salesman of the Year for the Chattanooga area in 1990.

He coached many teams in baseball, basketball, flag football and softball. In the 1960's, he coached the Daisy team in the Knothole League for 7 years, winning 4 championships.

He was a 1948 graduate of Soddy Daisy High School, where he was captain of the football team.

He joined Daisy First Baptist Church in 1956, serving as a deacon, choir member and Sunday School teacher. He recently became a member of the Rechoboth Baptist Church.

He served stateside as a jet mechanic in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Betty Thomas Rawlston, parents, Sam and Blanche Rawlston, brother Lamar Rawlston, and sisters Dorothy Williams, Edna Sims, Rita Barger, and Mary, Winnie, Alma and Clara Mae Rawlston,.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Shirley (Evans) Rawlston, sons John Jr. (Kathy Veazey) and Mark (Gloria) Rawlston, step daughters Lea Anne (Ed) Perez and Leslie (Kevin) Forstmann, grandchildren Keith Rawlston, Sallie Rawlston, Tayler Forstmann, and Caleb, Joshua and Makayla Perez, and great-grandchildren Mays and Cade Rawlston.

The funeral will be led by Rev. Alan Stewart at Rechoboth Baptist Church in Soddy Daisy at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, with visitation at the church at noon.  Burial services will follow at the Hamilton Memorial Gardens. The family will receive visitors at the Williamson & Sons Funeral Home in Soddy Daisy on Wednesday Nov. 28, 2018, from 2 until 4 p.m., and from 6 until 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Soddy Daisy High School, 618 Sequoyah Road, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 for the improvement of the John Rawlston Press Box (specify John Rawlston in the memo) or the building fund at Rechoboth Baptist Church, Box 1450, Soddy Daisy, TN 37384.

Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.
Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379.

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