Obituaries – March 15 Issue
CALVIN NEWTON
Calvin Newton, 93, of Lookout Mountain, passed away Friday, March 3, 2023.
Wesley ‘Calvin’ Newton was born in West Frankfort, Ill., on Oct. 28, 1929, to parents Irene and Leonard Newton. Calvin was the son of a Pentecostal preacher, and for young Calvin, he found that singing in church was a natural as talking. By the time he was six, he was singing with his mom and dad on a Saturday morning radio show in Harrisburg, Ill. In the 1940’s the family moved to Chicago where he worked unloading boxcars. In 1945-46 Calvin attended Church of God Bible Training School, forerunner of Lee University, where he sang with Victory Four and later with the Kingsmen Four. He also sang with Melody Masters, Crusaders Quartet, Deacon Utley’s Smile-A-While Quartet, Carl Raines and the All-American Quartet, Oak Ridge Quartet, All Stars Quartet and others. He was a regular on several radio shows and sang at several nightclubs.
He was the Kentucky State Middleweight Golden Gloves Championship and later involved with Georgia State Golden Gloves. He retired from boxing undefeated.
Calvin enrolled at Mercer University in 1950 where he enrolled in the ROTC program. He was drafted to serve in the Korean War where he served as a medic in Tokorozawa, Japan. Calvin was honorably discharged in 1953. In 1963 Calvin married the love of his life, Joyce Wonder. In 1980, Calvin formed Cal Newton’s Family of Song, which included Jean Bradford (Shorty Bradford’s wife), their daughter Carolyn, Calvin’s son, Wes, and his daughter Jackie and toured for several years.
He was invited to be a part of the Gaither Homecoming Friends family, and performed in countless videos and concerts up until his wife passed away in 2020, at the age of 90. Calvin’s last concert was on his 90th birthday. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and became a member of the Tri State Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. He was also presented the Living Legend Award by the Grand Old Gospel Reunion.
He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church and was a Noble in the Alhambra Shriners.
Calvin was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; parents, Irene and Leonard; sisters, Nora and Glada.
He is survived by his son, Wesley Newton; daughter, Jackie Harling; son-in-law, Keith; granddaughter Samantha Harling, all of Lookout Mountain; nephews, Dennis and Randy Karasik of Colo., Mark Miller of Bartlett, Tenn.; niece, Melissa Sullivan of Cordova, Tenn.
Funeral services were Monday, March 13, at Rising Fawn Baptist Church. A graveside service with full military honors was at Chattanooga National Cemetery on Tuesday, May 13.
Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.
JIM TINKER
James Oliver “Jim” Tinker, 74, of Trenton, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Jim was born Feb. 13, 1949, to the late Brady and Anna Dell Waller Tinker. He served in the United States Army and later retired from Combustion Engineering/APB and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Jim loved his community and was very civic oriented. He served on the Dade County Board of Equalization, Dade County Elections Board, was a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and a 4-H volunteer. Jim was an Elder and member of New Vision Church of God in Trenton. He was loved my many and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by siblings, Peggy Ann Dotson, Sheila Vaughn, Jackie Tinker and Brady Tinker Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Tinker; sons, Chad Tinker, Casey Tinker, Roger Brown, Chris (Karen) Brown and Trip (Tracey) Boyd; sisters, Alleen (Gerald) Hilton, Virginia (Willie) Colter, Mindy (Craig) Jordan; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Monday, March 13, 2023 in the Trenton chapel of Moore Funeral Home with Brother Michael Kilgore officiating. Burial with full military honors was in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Jim’s memory may be made to New Vision Church of God Youth Ministries, P.O. Box 1605, Trenton, GA 30752.
Visit www.MooreFHS.com to share expressions of sympathy and view his memorial tribute.
Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Trenton.
BEULAH WOOTTEN
Beulah Ann Wootten York, 69, of Lookout Mountain, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Beulah was born in Huntsville, Ala., to the late Freeman and Pauline Wootten and was a graduate of City High School in Chattanooga, Tenn. She served her Lord faithfully at West Cove Holiness Church, having received the gift of the Holy Ghost in 1976. Beulah was employed by the Mae Houck family for more than 20 years
She was preceded in death by her brother, Gene Wootten.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, William “Bill” York; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Stacey York; grandchildren, Greyson (Malorie) York and Garrett York; great-grandchildren, Jack and Scarlett York; brother, Larry (Freda) Wootten; and sister, Virginia Glass.
Funeral services were Wednesday, March 8 in the funeral home chapel of Ryan Funeral Home with Rev. Aaron Wooten and Bro. Darrell Townson officiating. Interment was at Lake Hills Memorial Gardens with Greyson York, Garrett York, Terry York, Cade Wooten, Greg Bradford, and Loren Bridges serving as pallbearers.
Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.