Charles Randolph "Randy" Gilreath, 67, of Ringgold, GA, passed away Thursday, May 8, 2015. Born March 31, 1948, he was the son of the late Charles Arthur and Ruth Eleanor Brooks Gilreath and has been a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area.
Randy died peacefully at home cared for and loved by his loving family and family friend. Randy had suffered a stroke in June 1998 and had been on dialysis treatments three times a week for the past 14 years.
He has attended Rivermont Elementary School; Red Bank Jr. High School and Chattanooga City High School and was a Vietnam Veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force. After returning from his military duty, he attended Chattanooga State Community College, completing his training to become an Orthopedic Physician's Assistant.
His job experiences were several, his last job opportunity being at Hutcheson Medical center. He was instrumental in advancing the orthopedic department there. Randy loved his work and carried out his job responsibilities with great pride.
Randy was a member of the Church of God and attended The Crossing as he was able. His favorite Bible verse that he repeated many times was James 1:2-8, 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Before Randy had his stroke, he loved golfing. Every opportunity he got, he would grab his clubs and head for the golf course.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Deborah Rogers Gilreath; children, Heather (Eddie) Phillips, Crystal (Jeff) McCommon, Charles "Chuck" Gilreath; grandchildren, Hannah and Katlyn Sherrill, Ginny Phillips, Zane, Brooklyn and Halee Carter and Zoie Gilreath; brothers and sisters, Sherry Bodenbender, Debby (Charles) Sanders, Barry (Juliet) Gilreath and Chris Gilreath; loving sisters-in-law, Sibyl Scott, Kathy Garner and Lisa Jarvis.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the East Chapel with the Rev. Don Stovall, Rev. Don Glenn and Rev. Terry Harris officiating. Interment will be in National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Monday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 404 S. Moore Road