Roy Eugene Hampton

Roy Eugene Hampton JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. Roy Eugene Hampton, at 12:16 a.m. on Jan, 15, 2013, died peacefully in his sleep under loving care at Pine Oaks Assisted Living. His entrance into Eternal Life, at age 85, followed a rapid decline after a recent heart attack. Roy was born in Gap Creek, Tenn., on April 22, 1927, the fourth son and seventh child of Leonard Benjamin Hampton and Mary Etta Nave Hampton. A gifted singer and guitarist, Roy sang regularly on a local radio program (The Barrel of Fun), cut a number of popular records, and seriously considered a musical career. However, Roy was also a brilliant student, and after two years' service in the U.S. Navy in Word War II, he chose to pursue a career in academia. A graduate of Milligan College (Bachelor's degree) and the University of Pittsburgh (Master's degree in mathematics), Roy, now newly married to Wanda Lee Coil Hampton, taught for one year at Bluffton High School in Indiana, before being invited to teach at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. There he taught future naval officers for 10 years (in mathematics and engineering); and in his "spare time" he wrote a textbook on Basic Mechanisms, founded and pastored Glen Burnie Christian Church, and fathered and reared five children. During his academic career, Roy also taught on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University, Milligan College, the University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Intermont and Milligan College; he also taught courses and tutored at prisons in Pittsburgh, and Brushy Mountain, Tenn. Roy pastored throughout and beyond his academic career at various churches, to include: Glen Burnie Christian Church in Maryland, Hales Chapel Christian Church in Tennessee, Central Christian Church of Pittsburgh, and Gap Creek Christian Church in Tennessee. He also served as interim pastor at Newport Christian Church in Tennessee, and as Pastor of Visitation at Central Christian Church of Bristol, Tenn. But among all of his achievements and contributions, Roy will probably be best remembered for his love of God and his love of people, his and Wanda Lee's generosity and hospitality, and his humility and grace. Professor, author, father and husband, singer and musician, volunteer fire-fighter, church-planter and pastor, marriage counselor, story-teller, faithful servant of God and lover of His children, he will be deeply missed. A full life, well-lived Roy leaves behind four surviving children, L. Paul Hampton (Jayne) of Unicoi, Tenn., R. David Hampton (Mary Ann) of West Point, N.Y., Mary Fern Hampton Phillippe (Timothy) of St. Charles, Mo., and Rebecca Anne Hampton Plumer of Elizabethton; three surviving brothers, Lloyd Earl Hampton (Glenda) of Johnson City, Tenn., John Carl Hampton (Barbara) of Unicoi, and Jerry Lewis Hampton (Sandy) of Knoxville, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren, Crystal, Jessica (Matt), Angela (Stephen), Jonathan (Brooke), Laura (Ben), Allen (Raina), Daniel (Julie), Melody (Noah), Faith Anna, Christopher (Kathryn), Josiah (Mandy), and Amber; 13 great-grandchildren, Stephen, Ellie Grace, Benjamin, Grayson, James, Elijah, Ronin, Spencer, Fulton, Cora, Matthew, Ethan and James; four brothers-in-law from Wanda Lee: John A Coil (Virginia), Harry Malcolm Coil (Yvonne), Keith A. Coil (Bonnie), and Jesse E. Coil; beloved nieces and nephews; a host of loving friends; and thousands upon thousands of touched lives. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 46 years, Wanda Lee Coil Hampton; his second daughter, Eva Ruth Hampton Jaynes (Paul); three sisters, Ethel Hampton, Orlia Pearl Hampton Harrison (Henry) of Gap Creek, Elizabethton; and Ella Mae Hampton Miller (Arvil) of Gap Creek, Elizabethton; and three brothers, Paul Hampton, Baby Samuel Hampton, and Elbert Ray Hampton (Lorado) of Elizabethton. The celebration of life service for Mr. Hampton will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home at Elizabethton, with Dr. Tim Ross, minister, officiating. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2:30 p.m., prior to the service in the funeral home chapel on Saturday. Music will be under direction of Bobby McGee and Scott Reynolds, with special recordings by Roy Eugene Hampton. The graveside service will follow in the Centerview Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Active pallbearers will be Jonathan Phillippe, Chris Phillippe, Tim Phillippe, Allen Hampton, Daniel Hampton, Mac Coil, Amber Anne Plumer and Don Dykes. Honorary pallbearers will be John Hampton, Earl Hampton, Jerry Hampton, Wimpy Hampton, James Shields, Gene Nix, John A. Coil, George Fulwider, Larry Miller, Anthony Lyons, Shelby Miller, and Vic Harrison. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Pine Oaks Assisted Living Community and Hopwood Christian Church for the love shown to Mr. Hampton. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Roy and Wanda Lee Hampton scholarship at Milligan College, P.O. Box 750, Milligan College, TN 37682 or at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, 1 Walk Dr., Johnson City, TN 37601. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is serving the family. Office 423 542-2232, Obituary line 543-4917.