Donald N. Ervin

Donald N. Ervin, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 13, 2016 surrounded by his family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  Don was born March 14, 1931 in Cleveland, TN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Winstead, Sr. and Claudia Pearl Panky Ervin; brothers, George Ervin, Jimmy Ervin, Carl Ervin and Bobby Ervin and sisters, Dean Bigham and Mildred Easterly.

Don is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Barbara Odom Ervin of Cleveland; children, Neal (Cherie) Ervin of Cleveland, Dwight (Wendi) Ervin of St. Louis, MO and Jill (Eric) Calfee of Dalton, GA; seven grandchildren, Bradley (Caroline) Ervin of Knoxville, Laura Ervin (Dan) Johnson of Nashville, Drew Ervin, Brooke Ervin and Bret Ervin of St. Louis, MO, and Cole Calfee and Caroline Calfee of Dalton, GA; two great-grandchildren, Westley and Eleanor Ervin of Knoxville and several nieces and nephews. 

A life-long resident of Cleveland, Don graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1949.  He went on to attend Tennessee Technological University on a football scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education.  In 1954, Don entered the United States Army where he was stationed in Ft. Monmouth, NJ serving as a Company Commander and playing on the Ft. Monmouth football team.

Don was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland for over 60 years and served as a Deacon for many of those years.

Don began a 41 year career at Cleveland Bank and Trust Company (now First Tennessee) where he performed almost every job at the bank before retiring as Executive Vice President and serving on the Board of Directors.

Don was a successful businessman and community leader.  He was involved in numerous civic organizations in Bradley County holding leadership positions in the March of Dimes, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Junior Achievement, and Habitat for Humanity and was a founding member of the Bradley High School Booster Club.  Don enjoyed serving as Treasurer of the William Hall Rodgers Basket Fund for many years.  He served as President of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association and helped establish the Chattanooga Chapter of the Alumni Association.  Don was inducted into the Bradley County Old Timers Hall of Fame for football in 1995.  He loved playing golf with his family and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February, 18, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Cleveland with Dr. Allan Lockerman officiating.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church prior to the service. The Tri-State Warehouse Board of Directors will serve as honorary pallbearers.

A private family interment will be held on Friday in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

A heartfelt thank you to special longtime caregivers, Loretta Campbell, Juanita Cooper, Gene Kerr and the Heartland Village Staff at Elmcroft of Hamilton Place and Avalon Hospice for your loving care of Don.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 7625 Hamilton Place #22, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or the First Baptist Church of Cleveland Manna Ministry, PO Box 2368, Cleveland, TN 37320-2368. 

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Ervin family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.