STEPHEN JAMES ROUTON & DESCENDANTS
STEPHEN JAMES ROUTON, SR.
Born: February 28, 1874
Died: October 1, 1958
Buried: Maplewood Cemetery
(FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLE)
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S. J. ROUTON DIES;
FORMER STATE SENATOR
Stephen James Routon, Sr., respected member of a pioneer Henry County family, died yesterday afternoon at his home on Dunlap Street.
He was 84.
He was the son of the late Stephen Palmer Routon and Mary Catherine
Haymes, settlers of the Routon community. Mr. Routon was a member of First Baptist Church, and had been a Baptist for over 60 years.
He attended Bethel College in McKenzie and was a graduate of Rome
University in Rome, Georgia. After teaching school for several years in Georgia and Florida, he returned to Paris where he entered the real estate business.
He served one term in the Tennessee Senate, and during this time and for a number of years after he was active in securing pensions for Confederate veterans. He served in an honorary position in
World War I, assisting draftees and enlistees secure necessary
data and complete questionnaires.
Last year, he appeared on a national television broadcast when his wife,
widely known as “Miss Pearl” to the host of people the couple has befriended, was the subject of the program, “This is Your Life.”
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 Friday afternoon at Milligan
& Ridgeway Funeral Home, where the body will remain until time for the services. The Rev. O. E. Turner
will officiate, and burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
He leaves his wife, the former Pearl Sanders, a florist, who has been
active for many years in professional and political fields, one daughter, Mrs. Ray B. Burton of Knoxville; three sons, Stephen James Routon, Jr., and Joseph Routon of Paris, and William S. Routon of Baltimore, Maryland; and 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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S. J. ROUTON
If one were asked to name the most distinguishing characteristic of S. J.
Routon, who passed away peacefully Wednesday afternoon at the age of 84, it would be his perpetual optimism.
This trait of character extended into every avenue of his life and was
responsible for his reactions to changes which have taken place in our nation and the world during the past thirty years.
As real estate dealer following World War One, he
was sold on the future development of Paris and Henry County.
He liked to talk about“booms”, such as those which took place in Florida
and at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and he wanted to see our community
grow more substantially.
He was a sick man for a long, long time before his death but he seldom
complained. Even during his last visits to the downtown section he expressed optimism over the future and he had confidence that our leaders will be able to keep us out of war.
Mr. Routon was a good citizen, husband and father.
We offer our sympathy to his good wife, “Miss Pearl,” and to his fine
family.
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MRS. J. S. ROUTON, SR.
PEARL SANDERS ROUTON
Born: July 24, 1882
Died: April, 1965
Buried: Maplewood Cemetery
(FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLE)
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Florist, Artist, Musician, City Beautifier
‘MISS PEARL’ ROUTON, LADY OF MANY TALENTS,
DIES AT AGE 82
Mrs. S. J. Routon, Sr., known to hundreds of friends and admirers as
“Miss Pearl”, died last night at Henry County General Hospital at the age of 82. Death came at six p.m., to the native Henry Countian whose talents, accomplishments and contributions to her community were so numerous that it would take volumes to record them all.
Funeral services will be held at 11 o’clock Saturday morning at McEvoy,
with the Rev. Carroll Owen officiating. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, and the remains will be a McEvoy’s until time for the funeral.
Born July 24, 1882 in the Buchanan community of Henry County, Mrs. Routon was the daughter of the late William Sanders and Henrietta Walker Sanders. She was married December 19, 1901 to the late Stephen James Routon, who served as a Senator in the Tennessee Legislature representing Henry and Carroll Counties.
He preceded her in death in 1957.
Mrs. Routon was an accomplished pianist, artist and writer and at one time operated the largest greenhouse and nursery business in West Tennessee.
The former homeplace on South Dunlap was purchased from Henry
Lee Greer last year and remodeled into one of the show places of the community. The home was originally purchased by the Routons in 1916, and its dining room has hosted such outstanding personalities as
Oscar Lavant, Don Harlburg, Governor Frank Clement, and many others, and for many years the social life of the community was charmingly entertained in this home with typical Routon warmth and Southern hospitality.
The talented Mrs. Routon began to grow flowers in her yard soon after she and her husband acquired the home.
They built their first greenhouse during World War I, two more were added later and the peak of their florist business, Routon Florists, was serving Murray, Huntingdon, Milan, Dresden, Martin, and Fulton, and was the only greenhouse between Nashville and Memphis.
At the age of 14 Mrs. Routon entered Peabody College in Nashville under special permission due to her age. The late Governor James D. Porter was president of Peabody at that time. In later years, when her husband was serving in the State Senate, she re-entered Peabody to study art, and was awarded the Stief Medal for a still life drawing, the highest art honor that Peabody College confers.
At the age of four, Mrs. Routon displayed an early talent for art by
painting flowers on tin cans, and in later years she excelled in painting
china. She once painted a set of Haviland China for the late
Mrs. O. C. Barton using pure gold leaf, a set that is now owned by Mrs. J. H. McSwain and considered one of the finest sets of Haviland China to be found in Tennessee today.
In 1937 Mrs. Routon was named one of the ten most successful
business women in Tennessee.
She was a charter member of the Paris Garden Club and Matinee Music Club and was secretary of the Paris Woman’s Club.
During World War I she put on a number of fund raising projects and
received a personal commendation from President Woodrow Wilson.
During World War II her sons served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
From 1912 to 1919 she served as chairman of the women’s division of the Tennessee State Fair at Nashville, and during that time was instrumental in having the iris named as Tennessee’s state flower.
At one time Mrs. Routon had one of the largest collections of fine iris
to be found in the entire South and in the 1930’s gave away 10,000 iris bulbs for the beautification of the city.
She was credited with leading the movement to tear down the old iron
fence that once surrounded the court square yard, and planted shrubs and trees in the courthouse yard. Pearl Street was named in her honor, and Routon Street is named for the Routon family. She was responsible for planting the double row of trees that now line Grove Boulevard.
On December 16, 1956 Mrs. Routon was on nationwide television when she was selected for the “This Is Your Life” subject by Ralph Edwards.
She took up portrait painting in 1944, and had painted the portraits of
three Tennessee governors, Frank G. Clement, Jim McCord and James D. Porter, She was named a “Colonel” on the staff of Governor Clement, one of the few women even to be accorded this honor.
Mrs. Routon’s other talents included planning of weddings and wedding
receptions including the catering and decoration of wedding cakes, and she handled many of these events, both in Paris and in other cities.
RAY B. BURTON JR.
BORN: MAY 20, 1939
DIED: SEPTEMBER 15, 1991
Word has been received of the death of Ray B. Burton Jr., 52, of Niantic, Conn., and New York City, nephew of Jim and Joe Routon of Henry County. He was the son of Catherine Routon
Burton of Knoxville and the late Ray B. Burton Sr.
Formerly with Equitable Securities Corp. in Nashville,
he died Tuesday in Lawrence Memorial Hospital,
New London, Conn., from complications of liver disease.
He was a founding principal of
Trevor Stewart Burton & Jacobsen Inc., a New York investment firm.
Because of his illness, he resigned
in March as executive vice president and director of Trevor Stewart.
Memorial services were this morning
at the Chapel of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Manhattan, N. Y., and will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Old Lyme, Conn.
Born in Knoxville, he was educated at Woodberry Forest School, Orange, Va.; Vanderbilt University, Nashville; and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
His professional career as a bond specialist spanned 25 years.
In the early 1960’s, he served as a lieutenant in the Navy.
Survivors also include his wife, Karen “Missy” Burton; two sons, Ray and David Burton of Knoxville; and a sister, Betsy Willis of Chicago, Ill.
He was a grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Routon Sr. of Paris.
CATHERINE ROUTON BURTON
BORN: JULY 7, 1904 (?)
DIED: MAY 29, 1995
(FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLE)
Memorial services for native Parisian Catherine Routon Burton were held Wednesday, at Sequoyah Presbyterian Church in Knoxville,
where she was a long time member.
Mann’s Heritage Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Burton died Monday, May 29, 1995, in Knoxville.
The daughter of the late Stephen
James Routon and Pearl Routon, she was the widow of Ray B. Burton.
A 1922 graduate of Grove High School, she received degrees from George Peabody College in Nashville and the University of Iowa in Ames, where her thesis in home economics was used as a text book.
She taught home economics at Union University and in the 1930’s and
40’s and at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was an active friend and advisor of Chi Omega sorority for more than 50 years, serving the organization as a national officer. In 1983, Pi Chapter of Chi Omega established an ongoing scholarship in her honor.
She was eulogized by Chi Omega
national president Melanie Shain at her memorial service.
She also was former commissioner of the Girl Scouts of Knoxville.
She is survived by three brothers,
Jim and Joe Routon of Paris and Bill Routon of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A son, Ray B. Burton Jr., also preceded her in death.
WILLIAM S. ROUTON
(DIED APRIL 22, 1998)
Memorial services for William Sanders Routon, 77, Saxon Drive, New Smyrna Beach, who died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach,
with Rev. Louis Trebus officiating.
Born in Paris, Tenn., he came to this area in 1987 from Maitland, Fla. He graduated from the University of Tennessee,
served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II and retired from Martin-Marietta where he was an aeronautical engineer with 36 years of service. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach, where he was active in the handbell choir.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marcia; daughters, Catherine Sanders of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; Coral Anne Childrey and husband, Ken, of Ashville , N.C., Dorothy Ann Strickland and husband, Paul, of Vero Beach, Margaret Anne Mars and husband, Jeff, of Winter Springs; brothers, James Stephen Routon of Routon, Tenn., Joseph Routon of Paris, Tenn.; sister-in-law Ruth Sheidweiler of Englewood, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of other remembrances, memorial donations are requested to Trinity Lutheran Church, 485 Turnbull Bay Road, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. 32168, or Hospice of Volusia, 3800 Woodbriar Trail,
Port Orange, Fla. 32119.
Baldwin-Hughey Funeral Home and Cremation Service, North Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, was in charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM S. “BILL” ROUTON
(DIED APRIL 22, 1998)
William Sanders “Bill” Routon, 77, died Wednesday, April 22, 1998,
at his residence in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Local survivors are two brothers, Joe Routon of Paris and
James Stephen “Jim” Routon of Routon.
The body is to be cremated. A memorial service is scheduled at 3
p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 485 Turnbull Bay Road, New Smyrna Beach, where he was a member and served in the handbell choir. Baldwin-Hughey Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
Routon was born July 11, 1920, in Paris. His wife, Marcia, also survives. They were married 45 years ago. A 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II, he was a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and worked as an aeronautical engineer for 36 years at Martin Marietta. He had moved to Florida in 1987 and lived in Maitland before moving to New Smyrna Beach.
In addition to his wife and brothers, he is survived by four daughters,
Coral Anne Childrey of Ashville, N.C., Margaret Anne Mars of Winter
Springs, Fla., Catherine Sanders of Altamonte Springs, Fla., and Dorothy Anne Strickland of Vero Beach, Fla.; nine
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church at the address given above or to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler,
3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Fla., 32119.
JIM ROUTON
STEPHEN JAMES ROUTON, JR.
Born: November 29, 1915
Died: September 15, 2001
Buried: Maplewood Cemetery
(From newspaper article)
“JIM” ROUTON
Stephen James Routon, Jr., died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001,
at his residence in Routon.
Born Nov. 29, 1915, he was the son
of the late S. J. Routon and Pearl Sanders Routon.
After graduation from Grove High School, where he was president of the 1934 senior class, he received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he was a member of the varsity track team and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
In 1943, he volunteered for military duty in the U.S. Navy. He
served a year overseas as a seaman then returned to attend midshipman school in Columbia University in New York City.
After completing midshipman school, he was a line officer on a tank landing craft. He received the Okinawa Battle Star and was discharged in 1946. He remained in the Naval Reserve until 1951.
Routon was a purchasing agent for the War Department in Washington, D.C., and Sioux Ordnance Depot in Sidney, Nebraska,
before returning to Paris to be associated
with his parents in the Routon Florist Business.
Later he assumed a farming interest
which he maintained until his death.
He retired in 1981 as business counselor for the State of Tennessee serving all counties in West Tennessee except Shelby.
On June 2, 1940, he was married to
the former Val Rucker, who survives.
He also leaves their three children: Gini Burton
Routon Williams of River Forest, Ill., Stephanie Routon Tayloe of Paris Landing and William Rucker Routon and wife Shelia of Routon;
Seven grandchildren: Tom Routon Williams of San
Francisco, Dr. Arthur Burton Williams and wife Alaine of
Cincinnati, James Curtis Williams of Chicago;
Jill Routon Wilson and husband Andy of McKenzie, Kristen Michelle Routon, Richard Matthew Routon and Joshua James Routon.
Three great-grandchildren: Spellings Andrew Wilson, Nathaniel James
Williams and Thalia Amel Routon;
One brother, Joe Routon and wife
Virginia of Paris; several nieces and nephews;
and a sister-in-law, Mrs. William S. Routon.
Preceding him in death were a sister, Catherine Routon Burton; a nephew, Ray Berry Burton, Jr.; a son-in-law, Samuel Albert Tayloe; and a brother, William Sanders “Billy” Routon.
Visitation will be at Ridgeway Funeral Home at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, followed by a graveside service at 11 a.m.
at the family plot in Maplewood Cemetery.
Jerry Massey and Charles Orr will officiate.
The family requests memorials be made to the men’s ministry or the ministry for the deaf at First Baptist Church
in Paris, or to Habitat for Humanity.
“JOE” ROUTON, SR.
BORN: OCTOBER 2, 1921
DIED: JULY 3, 2003
BURIED: MAPLEWOOD CEMETERY
(FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLE)
Services for Joseph Routon Sr. of Paris were conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church in Paris,
where he was a member for 70 years and had served as deacon,
Sunday school director and member of the choir.
Jerry W. Massey and Charles Orr officiated.
Burial followed in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation was
Saturday and Sunday at Ridgeway Funeral Home.
Named as pallbearers were Bobby Jelk, Jim Roberts,
Lyman Black, Harlan McCartney, John Van Dyck and Roland Parkhill.
Honorary pallbearers were Ansil Boals, Bryan Williams,
Ewell Orr, Jerry Lee, Jim Galey, Lewis Wallis, Rex Hearington, Sam Tharpe, Wayne Tubbs, Bobby Flowers, Homer Spain, Dan Knowles and Gordon Owen.
Routon, 81, died Thursday, July 3,
2003, at Methodist Hospital North in Memphis.
A Paris native, he was born Oct. 2, 1921, to Stephen James Routon Sr. and Pearl Sanders Routon, now deceased.
He was married on Nov. 1, 1942, the
former Virginia Rucker, who survives.
He also leaves four sons: Phil (Marsha) Routon of Paris, Joe
(Joyce Ann) Routon, Jr. of Haddonfield, N. J., Dr. Bob Routon of Humboldt and Ed (Jan) Routon of Nashville.
Three daughters: Amy (Monty) Montgomery of Franklin, Elizabeth “Boogle” (Charlie) Bradley of Brentwood and
Velma (Tim) Huggins of Cordova;
Seventeen grandchildren: Carol Routon of Dana Pointe, Calif.,
Susan Routon of Haddonfield,
Joey (Chrissie) Routon of Mount Laurel, N. J.
Robby and Emily Routon, both of Humboldt, Will Routon of Los Angeles, Capt. Grant Montgomery, who is stationed
with the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell;
Andrew and Elliot Montgomery, both of Franklin, Erich Routon and Rachel and Jenny Bradley, all of Nashville;
Shanon (Stephen) Gruchot of Londonderry, N. H.,
Jeremy Huggins of St. Louis, Carrie Huggins of New York City
and Wesley and Stuart Routon, both of Paris;
Six great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He also was preceded in death by two brothers: Stephen J. “Jim”
Routon Jr. and William S.“Billy” Routon; one sister: Catherine
Burton; and a brother-in-law: Ray B. Burton.
The family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church music department, 313 N. Poplar St., Paris.
MISS VIRGINIA
Mrs. Joe Routon
Lillie Virginia Rucker Routon
Born: February 9, 1922
Died: March 21, 2008
Virginia Rucker Routon was born in Carroll County on February 9, 1922. She was the daughter of the late Rev. Edmund Birten Rucker and Velma Patterson Rucker. Her sister is Val Rucker Routon.
Miss Virginia married her high school sweetheart, Joe Routon, to whom she was married for 60 years. Joe Routon died on July 3, 2003.
The funeral service was held at First Baptist Church in Paris.
Rev. Larry Simmons officiated. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.
She is missed by her four sons - Phil Routon of Paris, Joe Routon of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Bob Routon of Humboldt, and Ed Routon of Nashville - and three daughters - Amy Montgomery of Franklin, Boogle Bradley of Brentwood, and Velma Huggins of Cordova.
She leaves eleven grandchildren - Joey, Susan, Emily and
Erich Routon, Grant Montgomery, Carol Routon Manely,
Jenny Bradley, Rachel Bradley Crosby, Carrie and Jeremy Huggins and Shanon Huggins Gruchot - and eleven great-grandchildren.
Her pallbearers were her grandsons - Robby, Will, Wesley and Stuart Routon; Andrew and Elliott Montgomery; and her
great-nephews - Matt and Josh Routon.
Miss Virginia was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church and a former member of the Paris Lioness Club, where
she was named Lioness of the Year.
After graduating from Grove High School and Toler's Business College, she was employed as a fiscal clerk at Camp Tyson during World War II and later with the Paris Special School District. She retired after 20 years as a bookkeeper at First Trust & Savings Bank.
VIRGINIA ROUTON
BORN: FEBRUARY 9, 1922
DIED: MARCH 21, 2008
BURIED: MAPLEWOOD CEMETERY
The funeral service for retired bookkeeper Lillie Virginia Rucker Routon of Paris will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at
First Baptist Church in Paris.
The Rev. Larry Simmons will officiate.
Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
Chosen as pallbearers are her grandsons: Robby, Will, Wesley and
Stuart Routon, Andrew and Elliott Montgomery; and her great-nephews: Matt and Josh Routon.
Honorary pallbearers will be staff members of Morningside Assisted Living, where she had lived the past 18 months.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today
and 9-10:15 a.m. Tuesday at Ridgeway Funeral Home.
Routon, 86, died Friday, March 21, 2008,
at Morningside Assisted Living.
Born Feb. 9, 1922, in Carroll County, she was a daughter of the
late Rev. Edmund Birten Rucker and Velma Patterson Rucker.
Her husband of 60 years, Joe Routon, died July 3, 2003. They
were high school sweethearts, according to a family member.
She was a longtime member of First
Baptist Church and a former member of the Paris Lioness Club,
where she was named Lioness of the Year.
After graduating from Grove High School and Toler’s Business College, she was employed as a fiscal clerk at Camp Tyson during World War II and later with the Paris Special School District. She
retired after 20 years as a bookkeeper at First Trust & Savings Bank.
She also leaves four sons: Phil (Marsha) Routon of Paris,
Joe (Joyce Ann) Routon of Haddonfield, N.J., Bob
Routon of Humboldt and Ed (Jan) Routon of Nashville;
three daughters: Amy (Monty) Montgomery of Franklin,
Elizabeth “Boogle” Bradley of Brentwood
and Velma (Tim) Huggins of Cordova; one sister: Val Routon of Routon.
Eleven other grandchildren: Joey, Susan, Emily and Erich Routon,
Grant Montgomery, Carol Routon Manley,
Jenny Bradley, Rachel Bradley Crosby, Carrie and Jeremy Huggins and
Shanon Huggins Gruchot; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers:
Edmund, Richard, and Robert Rucker.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church music department,
313 N. Poplar St., Paris; or the Autism Research Institute,
4182 Adams Ave., San Diego 92116; or the American Cancer Society, c/o Regions Bank, 914 E. Wood St., Paris.
Bob Routon
Bob Routon
Church and graveside services for general surgeon and former
Paris resident William Robert Routon of Humboldt were conducted Sunday.
The first service was held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Humboldt. The graveside service followed at 5:30 p.m. in Maplewood Cemetery in Paris, with David Allbritten officiating at the graveside
Published: Monday, April 30, 2012 12:12 PM CDT
Church and graveside services for general surgeon and former Paris resident William Robert Routon of Humboldt were conducted Sunday.
The first service was held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Humboldt. The graveside service followed at 5:30 p.m. in Maplewood Cemetery in Paris, with David Allbritten officiating at the graveside.
Pallbearers were Will, Erich, Wesley and
Stuart Routon and Elliott, Andrew and Grant Montgomery.
Visitation was Sunday at the church in Humboldt.
Ridgeway Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Routon, 65, died from a pulmonary embolism Thursday, April
26, 2012, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.
Born Jan. 8, 1947, in Fulton, Ky., he was a son of Joe and Virginia Rucker Routon, now both deceased.
A 1965 Grove High School graduate, he earned a bachelor’s
degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis, where he received his medical doctor degree in 1973.
His internship in surgery was at City of
Memphis hospitals, followed by a general surgery residency at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, where he was chief resident surgeon.
He did post-doctoral study at Duke University, earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering.
Since 1982, Routon had been chief general surgeon at
Humboldt General Hospital, also serving as part-time emergency room physician when needed.
A family member said Routon was a multi-talented person,
with interests in computers, photography and art,
adding he was particularly skilled in oil painting
and did illustrations for several medical textbooks.
He leaves a son, Rob Routon, and daughter, Emily Routon, both of Germantown; three sisters: Amy (Monty) Montgomery of Franklin, Boogle Bradley of Brentwood and Velma (Tim) Huggins of Cordova; three brothers: Joe (Joyce Ann) Routon Jr. of Haddonfield, N.J., Ed (Jan) Routon of Nashville and Phil (Marsha) Routon of
Paris; one aunt: Val Routon; and three cousins: Gini Williams, Stephanie Tayloe and Richard (Sheila) Routon.
Memorials may be made to Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute, Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, Suite 9211, 1215
21st Ave. S., Nashville 37232
Church and graveside services for general surgeon and former
Paris resident William Robert Routon of Humboldt were conducted Sunday.
The first service was held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Humboldt. The graveside service followed at 5:30 p.m. in Maplewood Cemetery in Paris, with David Allbritten officiating at the graveside
Published: Monday, April 30, 2012 12:12 PM CDT
Church and graveside services for general surgeon and former Paris resident William Robert Routon of Humboldt were conducted Sunday.
The first service was held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Humboldt. The graveside service followed at 5:30 p.m. in Maplewood Cemetery in Paris, with David Allbritten officiating at the graveside.
Pallbearers were Will, Erich, Wesley and
Stuart Routon and Elliott, Andrew and Grant Montgomery.
Visitation was Sunday at the church in Humboldt.
Ridgeway Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Routon, 65, died from a pulmonary embolism Thursday, April
26, 2012, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.
Born Jan. 8, 1947, in Fulton, Ky., he was a son of Joe and Virginia Rucker Routon, now both deceased.
A 1965 Grove High School graduate, he earned a bachelor’s
degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis, where he received his medical doctor degree in 1973.
His internship in surgery was at City of
Memphis hospitals, followed by a general surgery residency at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, where he was chief resident surgeon.
He did post-doctoral study at Duke University, earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering.
Since 1982, Routon had been chief general surgeon at
Humboldt General Hospital, also serving as part-time emergency room physician when needed.
A family member said Routon was a multi-talented person,
with interests in computers, photography and art,
adding he was particularly skilled in oil painting
and did illustrations for several medical textbooks.
He leaves a son, Rob Routon, and daughter, Emily Routon, both of Germantown; three sisters: Amy (Monty) Montgomery of Franklin, Boogle Bradley of Brentwood and Velma (Tim) Huggins of Cordova; three brothers: Joe (Joyce Ann) Routon Jr. of Haddonfield, N.J., Ed (Jan) Routon of Nashville and Phil (Marsha) Routon of
Paris; one aunt: Val Routon; and three cousins: Gini Williams, Stephanie Tayloe and Richard (Sheila) Routon.
Memorials may be made to Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute, Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, Suite 9211, 1215
21st Ave. S., Nashville 37232