Ralph Gilliam
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, with the Revs. David Sauer and Jimmy Calhoun officiating.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday at White-Ranson Funeral Home.
The family requests that memorials be made to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church building fund or Masquerade Theatre.
He was born July 26, 1937, in Russellville, Ky., son of the late J.H. and Vera (Moss) Gilliam. He married the former Nancy Jane Rainwater March 28, 1959. They had been married for 53 years when she passed away Jan. 20, 2013. He then married the former Peggy June Kirkland May 19, 2014. She survives.
He was a retired postal clerk at the Union City Post Office, where he was employed for 33 years. He had also been a medical technologist at the former Obion County General Hospital from 1957-1966. A member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church since 1959, he had been part of the chancel choir for more than 50 years and had served as church lay leader and chairman of both the Administrative Board and the Council on Ministries. He also served on the board of directors of Masquerade Theatre during the restoration of the Capitol Theatre and had been a cast member in numerous productions.
He was a former member of both the Union City Civic Chorus and the Civitan Club. He was an advanced grade HAM operator (KB4JAV) and had held membership in the American Medical Technologist Society.
He enjoyed fishing, along with flower and vegetable gardening, and had been an avid tennis player for more than 60 years.
He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Chris Norris of Knoxville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Scott and Marilyn Gilliam of Union City, Mike and Lisa Gilliam of Knoxville and Russ and Shantelle Gilliam of Martin; 12 grandchildren and their spouses, Scotty and Kristen Gilliam, Sara Gilliam, Amy and Heath Moody, Sumner Gilliam, Sydney Gilliam, Cooper Gilliam, Grayson Gilliam, Gabe Gilliam, Bryce Gilliam, Nick Norris, Noah Norris and Elex Carter; five great-grandchildren, Harrison Moody, Katy Gilliam, Colton Moody, Jacob Gilliam and Hayden Moody; two sisters, Dorothy Riley and Mary Jo Dew, both of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his brother, Paul Gilliam.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home website: www.white-ranson.com.