| Sources |
- [S80] Rawlings Funeral Home, (http://www.rawlingsfuneralhome.com/), 18 Aug 2004.
Georgia Evelyn Widner Compton obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 7 Apr 2015.
CHILHOWIE, Va. – Lester Cleve Compton Sr. age 82, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Smyth County Community Hospital.
He was born April 7, 1933, in Sevier County, Tennessee, a son of the late Buford and Georgia Widener Compton. He attended Sevier County High School in Sevierville, Tennessee, from 1947-1950 and played football his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. He attended Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and earned a B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education. While attending Carson Newman, he played varsity football for four years earning four varsity letters and was co-captain of the Carson Newman Eagles team his senior year. After graduating from Carson Newman in 1954, he served two years in the United States Army and then attended George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Public School Administration.
In 1956, he came to Smyth County, Virginia, as teacher and coach at Chilhowie High School. He taught a variety of subjects and coached varsity football, varsity baseball, girls varsity basketball, and started the varsity track team and little league football program. He was privileged to coach the varsity Warrior football team who won their District Championship in 1965. After teaching and coaching for nine years, he became principal of Chilhowie Elementary School. In 1970 he became principal of Chilhowie High School, the year the Warriors won the State Championship in football in their Group A Division. In 1991, he took early retirement from the Smyth County School System after 35 years of service and donated his time to operating Hungry Mother Family Campground in Marion, Virginia, which he and his wife had purchased in 1972. They sold the campground in 2005 to the Commonwealth of Virginia and it is now part of Hungry Mother State Park and known as Camp Burson.
He was inducted into the Smyth County Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was inducted into the Sevier County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2011 he was honored by the Virginia High School League and was presented the Regional C Award of Merit in Administration. He was a member of Chilhowie United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Katherine Fowler Compton of Chilhowie; one son, Lester Cleve Compton, Jr. and wife Judy of Chilhowie; one grandson, Christopher Lance Compton and wife Chrysti of Marion, Virginia; one great-granddaughter, Hannah Nichole Compton of Marion, Virginia; three sisters, Faye Parton Flynn of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jane Hancock of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mary Lewis and husband Clell of Sevierville, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015, at the Chilhowie United Methodist Church with Rev. Jerry A. Eggers and Rev. Rod Tkach officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m., until the time of the funeral service. Graveside services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, at Jarnigan Cemetery in Morristown, Tennessee. Family and friends will assemble at the cemetery for the service. Honorary pallbearers will be retired principals of the Smyth County School System, teachers and coaches of Chilhowie High School from 1957-1991, former football players from 1957-1965, and special friend, Eugene Groseclose.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chilhowie United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 367, Chilhowie, Virginia 24319 or to the Athletic Department, Carson Newman University, 2130 S. Branner Ave., Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.frostfuneralhome.com
FROST FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Abingdon, VA (276-628-2131) is honored to serve the family of Mr. Compton.
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 144769838).
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