He was a member of Union Grove Church of Christ and was retired from DuPont in Chattanooga with 32 years of service.
He was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and a lifelong supporter of Tennessee Vols football.
He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier U.S. Hancock from 1943 to 1946.
He was the youngest of the 11 children of the late Oscar E. and Rose Sandidge Finnell. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Shelia Finnell; brothers: Hubert, William T, Earl, Pledger, French, Robert, and Wallace; sisters: Mona Owen, Gladys Williamson and Lela Goode; and several nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 45 years, JoAnn; daughters: Linda Daugherty of Cleveland and Sherry Ann Finnell of Greenville; son, Steve Finnell and his wife, Houria, of Oakley, Calif.; his stepchildren and their spouses: Cindy Johnstone (Pat) of Nashville, Karen Taylor (Sid) of Knoxville and Joey Harbison (Shelia) of Cleveland; his seven dearly beloved granddaughters: Stephanie Goddard (Andy) of Knoxville, Jennifer Hammonds (Chuck) and Meghan Callahan (Matt), all of Cleveland, Amanda Cox of Ocoee, Tascha Harbison (J.T. Reed), Cindy Taylor and Betsy Taylor (Matt Grimes), all of Chattanooga; five great-grandchildren who brought him great joy: Charlie Hammonds, Shelby Hammonds and Scotland Callahan, all of Cleveland, Marshall Goddard of Knoxville and Taylor Grimes of Chattanooga; sister-in-law, Peggy Smith of Ooltewah; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today, Aug. 12, 2010, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Minister Steven Hall and Wayne E. Finnell officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 this evening at the funeral home prior to the service.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Finnell family guest book at www.ralphbuckner.com.
