Obit – Mr. Eddie Skelton
A longtime New Middleton resident and Rome Community native, Mr. Eddie Skelton, departed this life with his family present at the family’s Korman Lane home on Monday morning May 18th. Mr. Skelton was 81.
The Skelton family will have a memorial service at the Korman Lane family home on Saturday afternoon June 6th at 5 p.m. with his pastor, Bro. B.J. Thomason delivering the remarks.
They will receive friends at the home from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.
One of three sons of Rome Community merchants of Skelton’s Grocery, the late James William “J.W.” Skelton who died August 4, 1994 at the age of 76 and Elizabeth Johnson Dickerson Skelton who died September 12, 2010 at the age of 88; Larry Edwin Skelton was born December 21, 1944 at the former McFarland Hospital in Lebanon.
His two brothers, Randy Johnson Skelton departed this life June 27, 2018 at the age of 62 and Mike Skelton departed this life at the age of 74 on September 18, 2023.
At the New Middleton Baptist Church on January 17, 1987, he was united in marriage to the former Janet Marie Hartsell. The ceremony was performed by then pastor, Bro. Gary Atkins.
Mr. Skelton and daughter Dawn were saddened by the death of his first wife and her mother, Betty Lee Lehew Skelton who was only 36 and died as a result of a car crash in Wilson County on September 6, 1983. His older daughter, Tracy Laura Skelton died eight days later at the age of 13 on September 14, 1983 as a result of the accident that had taken her mother’s life. His other daughter, Dawn, was in the accident and survived.
Eddie was known for his keen sense of humor and quick wit, loved a good joke and always had a story to tell. He loved fishing, woodworking, traveling, painting and good food. Eddie was a talented artist who could paint or draw anything. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, laughter and love that will never be forgotten.
He was a member of the 1963 graduating class at Smith County High School where his majors were Science and Business Education. A description of his character in the ’63 annual was that he was “artistic, jolly & dependable.” He was a member of the school newspaper staff the “Black and Gold”. He was a member of the S.C.H.S. art club all four years and served as the president his senior year.
Mr. Skelton was a longtime member of the Smith County Rescue Squad where he was the secretary for many years.
He was a member of New Middleton Baptist Church.
Eddie was employed at Ross Gear in Lebanon, then A.V.C.O. Aerostructures in Nashville and finally General Mills/Pillsbury in Murfreesboro, retiring in 2009. He took pride in providing for his family and was well respected and loved by his co-workers.
Surviving in addition to his wife Janet, of over thirty-nine years are his daughter Dawn Skelton Santana and husband Todd of the Rome Community, daughter, Michelle Skelton Gregory and husband Joshua of the New Middleton Community; seven grandchildren, Jordan Norman and wife Jennifer of the Cottontown Community in Sumner County, Blake Norman and wife Samantha of the Rome Community, Harry Brooks and wife Kym of the Pleasant Shade Community, Trinity Cook and husband Matthew of Atlantic Beach, Florida, Tyler Bivens and wife Joelle of Gordonsville, Angel and Travis Gregory of the New Middleton Community; four great-grandchildren, Carter, Elizabeth, Levi and Cayden; several special nieces, nephews.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
