Obit – Mr. Dalton Chaffin
A well-known and highly respected longtime Lebanon businessman, Mr. Dalton Chaffin, passed away peacefully July 27, 2024 at the age of 94 at the Pavilion in Lebanon where he and his wife Patty of seventy four years made their home. He was born at home July 8, 1930, in the St. Mary’s Community of Smith County, the son of the late James Ridley Chaffin and Roxie Belle Pippin Chaffin.
Funeral services from the Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home were conducted on Wednesday afternoon July 31st at 2 p.m. Wayne Miller, Eld. Jay Wilburn, and Tim Rhodes officiated. Burial with military honors followed at the Wilson County Memorial Gardens.
He was born Dalton Louis Chaffin on July 8, 1930 in the St. Marys Community and was one of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of the late James Ridley Chaffin who died at the age of 86 on October 2, 1984 and Roxie Bellezora Pippin Chaffin who died at the age of 98 on August 31, 1998.
Six of his seven siblings preceded him in death. They were Dorothy Irene Chaffin who died April 4, 1984 at the age of 26, James Donald Chaffin who died September 17, 1964 at the age of 26, Glenn Chaffin who died April 17, 1991 at the age of 70, Mildred Woodard who died on 2006 at the age of 83, Evelyn Chaffin Bush who died August 9, 2019 at the age of 97, and Lois Chaffin Tomlinson.
Mr. Chaffin was a 1948 graduate of Smith County High School where he was a member of the commercial club, the English club, was a member of the Smith County High School marching band under then band director the late Kenneth Kirby, and played football alongside his best friend Billy Caplenor under then coach, the late Doyle Branson.
Mr. Chaffin was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He was a member of the 630th Engineering Lt. Equipment Co. and was awarded two Bronze Stars.
After returning from service he attended TV and Radio Repair School on the GI bill. He opened Chaffin TV & Radio repair in Carthage and after a short time relocated his business to Lebanon which became Chaffin TV & Appliance. He later expanded his business with stores in Hartsville and Sparta.
Dalton and his wife Patty became the owners of Bobo-Robinson Funeral Home (Ligon & Bobo) and after several years sold the business to the current owners, David Brooks and Clark McKinney.
He was a licensed funeral director and licensed pre-need insurance agent.
He was a charter member of the Carthage Lions Club and was a member of the American Legion.
He was one of the original stockholders of the Peoples Bank, Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores and Wilson Bank & Trust.
Dalton grew up attending church at the Rome Church of Christ and after moving to Lebanon attended Highland Heights Church of Christ where he would often lead the singing. In most recent years he attended Maple Hill Church of Christ as long as his health permitted.
Dalton was a kind and generous man.
He enjoyed playing golf and growing perfect flowers in his yard.
He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan, watching one hundred fifty baseball games a year, and was a Vanderbilt University Commodores fan.
One of his favorite pastimes through the years was playing the guitar with his friends. He played the bass guitar in the 1960’s and 70’s for the Happiness Quartet which was headed by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Elaine and Jackie Wilburn.
Survivors include his wife of seventy four years, Defeated Creek Community native the former Patty Smith; daughter, Vicki (Tim) Rhodes; grandson, Scott Rhodes; great-grandson, Greyson Dalton Rhodes; sister, Lonita Bains; sister-in-law, Elaine Wilburn of South Carthage; numerous nieces and nephews.
LIGON & BOBO of LEBANON
