Obituary of Richard Preston Savage

Richard Preston Savage, aged 91, of Baxter, Tennessee, passed away   September 29, 2021, following a lengthy illness. He was born February 17, 1930, in Grundy County, Tennessee, living as a child in the Barker’s Cove community. He taught in the Sequatchie County school system, served in the army from 1951 to 1953, and then returned to the Sequatchie County school system. In 1956 he was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to pursue graduate work at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) where he earned his Master’s degree. He would go on to earn his doctorate, also at Oklahoma State, in 1968. He was on the faculty of Tennessee Wesleyan for one year, worked two years at Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, and then served 30 years on the faculty of Tennessee Tech in the Mathematics Department until his retirement in 1992.  Also, in retirement he owned and operated the first and largest Christmas tree farm in Putnam County. A man with a dry sense of humor, he always kept his family smiling at home or on one of the many family adventures, traveling to 49 of the 50 states.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse Lawson and Pearl Stockwell Savage, his brother Donald, and son Bob.

 

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Anna Ross Swafford Savage. He is also survived by sons Richard, Michael, and Steve; daughter Linda; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one nephew, and three nieces.

 

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Sunday October 3, 2021, in the funeral home chapel (social distancing and masks requested) with burial to follow in the Browns Chapel Cemetery with Military Honors.

 

Visitation: 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM Sunday at Layne Funeral Home, Palmer, Tennessee.  Please be considerate of the family by avoiding personal contact, wear a mask and practice social distancing.

 

www.laynefuneralhome.com