Joseph David Chalmers
Joseph David Chalmers, born Oct. 26, 1938, had a saying that applied far beyond a golf course: “keep it in the fairway!”
Joe, who passed away April 23, 2025, will always be remembered for love of his family and the game of golf. Joe made Knoxville his home, but he learned to play golf on the other side of the world. His father was a diplomat who traveled the world with his family in tow. Golf set its hooks into him at an early age, and he was powerless to do anything but go along for the ride.
Joe gave Tennessee amateur golf one of its most beloved tournaments, the Four-Ball, and ran it for more than 40 years. He championed the creation of the Senior Four-Ball, served two terms as president of Tennessee Golf Association and was an associate director of Southern Golf Association.
He was a former board member at both Fox Den and Holston Hills country clubs, where he had been a member for more than 40 years and a multiple-time club champ. Now he plays the golden course in Heaven, surrounded by old friends and endless fairways.
Joe was a retired commercial realtor holding a CCIM designation, was a Navy veteran and once named one of Knoxville’s Best Dressed Men. His passion for gardening, especially roses and orchids, brought him joy.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Rita (Douglas) Chalmers, and was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma (1993); his son, Scott; and his brother, Jimmy. He also is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Robert Torbett; grandchildren, Kristin and Scott Torbett; and six great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Robbin, Russell and Jason Douglas; and sister-in-law, Becki Chalmers.
He also leaves behind his adopted family: Tom and Laura Martin and his special gifts: Abby Rose (Yates), Caroline (Settje) and Erica (Shreve) Douglas. His strong and guiding hand will always be with us when we face life’s decisions.
A special thanks to Dr. John Showalter, Tara Carroll, Margaret Keele and all the staff at Covenant Therapy and NHC Farragut. Big Joe, we will miss you so much.
A private service for family and close friends begins at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, May 29, at Veterans Cemetery Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920.
In lieu of flowers, Joe requested a donation to either Tunnel to Towers Foundation, to assist disabled servicemen and firefighters; or Tennessee Golf Foundation, 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069
Donna Jean (Jewett) Hawn, age 90 of Farragut, passed away Thursday morning, April 17, 2025, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville.
Donna was born in Juneau, Alaska, to the late Leo Julius and Helen Agnes (Laurie) Jewett. She worked for a short stint in the travel industry as a bookkeeper; however most of her life was dedicated to her husband, children and volunteer work.
Donna was a proud member of the Farragut community and dedicated many hours to serving as a docent with Farragut Folklore Museum. She also was a longtime member of Philanthropic Educational Organization, a national organization where women motivate women. In her spare time she enjoyed working in crafts and needlework. She also enjoyed a good puzzle book.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clyde L. Hawn; her son, Kevin Hawn; and her sister, Marilyn Olsen.
Mrs. Hawn is survived by her devoted children, Shannon (Robert) Coats of Kent, Washington, and Keith Hawn of Farragut; grandchildren, Imara, Khalil and Malik; and brother, Robert (Jeannie) Jewett of Silverton, Oregon.
If you desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Philanthropic Educational Organization online at https://www.peointernational.org/.
The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, in Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike in Farragut.
To leave online condolences: www.clickfh.com
William “Skylar” Coffield, age 36, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, cast off his broken and limited earthly body and became the glorified version of himself — limitless and perfect.
He is now in Glory where all things are made new. His family was at his side as he made the transition on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City.
He was born in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on Aug. 24, 1988, the son of Dr. James L. Coffield and Mona (Holloway) Coffield, who both survive him.
Skylar lived in Dayton, Tennessee; Powell, Tennessee; Casselberry, Florida; and most recently in Lenoir City. He was a graduate of Winter Springs High School in Winter Springs, Florida.
He loved and lived a big story, changing the lives of those who experienced his captivating soul. It proved to be difficult to live as a non-typical dreamer in this broken world.
He was an autistic theologian who taught others about God and themselves. He was a member of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Farragut, Tennessee.
Skylar is survived by his parents, Dr. Jim and Mona Coffield of Lenoir City; his brother, Pearce (Brelyn) Coffield of Lenoir City; his sister, Kim (Noah) Neagles of Knoxville, Tennessee; his aunt, Luana Holloway of Franklin, Kentucky; his uncle, Mike (Sherry) Coffield of Maryville; and his nephews, Cedar, Rowan and Zay.
The family will receive friends in Dayton beginning at 4 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025, at Vanderwall Funeral Home. A graveside service at Rhea Memory Gardens in Dayton will follow at 5 p.m., with the Rev. Seth Hammond, the Rev. Andrew Baughman and the Rev. Michael Palmer officiating, followed by a white dove release.
A Celebration of Life for Skylar will be held at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church, beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025, with visitation with the family one hour before the service.
Please share your memories and photos of Skylar on his online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.
The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton.
Skylar did not enjoy flowers, so in lieu of flowers please make generous contributions to one of the following organizations in his name: Joni & Friends of Knoxville or ACE ministries at Christ Covenant Church in Farragut.
Barbara Frances Schweitzer, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025, at the age of 83, following complications from Parkinson’s Disease.
She was born on March 10, 1942, to Charles and Ruth Smith (Sauer) and grew up in Elgin, Illinois. She moved to Milwaukee in the early 1960s, where she spent most of her life until retiring to Knoxville in 2000.
Barb worked as a budget planner at Bucyrus Erie from the mid-’60s until the late ’90s, but devoted her life to being a loving and engaged wife, mother and grandmother.
She spent her early adult years enjoying life with friends playing in tavern softball and bowling leagues, and later developed a love for golf with her husband, Roy.
A diehard Green Bay Packers fan, she often could be found with a green Packer-Backer drink in hand during football season.
Barb and Roy loved traveling with friends to various casinos throughout the South and Midwest, and a quick trip to Cherokee was always on the calendar. Barb and her daughter enjoyed countless shopping trips to any mall within driving distance. She spent her later years playing in several ladies’ golf leagues, forming lasting and unbreakable friendships.
She was the life of any party, and her contagious smile and laughter and infectious spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Barb is survived by her devoted husband, Elroy (Roy) Schweitzer; daughter, Danielle (Schweitzer) Lawrence; son-in-law, Kyle Lawrence; grandchildren, Lillian and Hudson Lawrence; as well as other loving family and friends.
Arrangements will be made in the coming weeks, but the funeral will take place at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Green Bay Packers Foundation.
Dr. Dava Headden Shoffner, devoted wife, mother and esteemed nursing professional, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 24, 2025, at the age of 84, with her husband of 63 years, Marty, by her side.
Born on Oct. 3, 1940, in Trimble, Tennessee, Dava was the daughter of David P. and Lucille Headden. She married Martin L. Shoffner in 1962, and together they raised their three children in Farragut, Tennessee.
Dava’s nursing career spanned decades, beginning with earning her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Memphis State University in 1962, her Master’s of Science degree in nursing in 1981 and her doctoral degree in 1988 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She taught at the UTK College of Nursing, specializing in women’s health for many years.
As a clinician and educator, she inspired countless students and patients with her compassion and dedication. Dava also served in leadership roles with the Tennessee Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association, advocating for underserved communities and expanding access to care.
Dava is survived by her husband, Marty; son, Mark; daughter, Anne; brother, Bert Headden; and grandchildren, Grace, Lucas and Colin. She was preceded in death by her son, Scott.
Receiving of friends will be held from noon to 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, followed by a service.
Donations may be made to the Interfaith Health Clinic, UT Nursing Building Campaign or the Nature Conservancy.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Billy Povlin, 95, on Jan. 19, 2025, at his home in Farragut, Tennessee, after a brief illness. Billy was born on Dec. 23, 1929, in Universal, Indiana.
After graduating high school in Clinton, Indiana, Billy proudly served the United States in the Navy as a mechanics mate. After military service, he attended Rose-Hulman University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Following graduation, Billy dedicated nearly 40 years of his career to E.I. DuPont (now Chemours) in New Johnsonville, Tennessee.
He was a longtime member of the Lions Club in Waverly, Tennessee, where he earned many distinctions and awards for his contributions. Billy also served many years as a member of the Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce and deeply loved his community. As an active member of the Waverly United Methodist Church, he attended regularly and found joy in the fellowship.
Billy had a passion for high school sports in Waverly, particularly the basketball program. This passion carried over after his relocation to Farragut, where he attended Farragut High School basketball games regularly. In 2016, he and his beloved wife, Maggie, relocated to Farragut to be closer to his family. Maggie passed away in July of 2019.
Billy is survived by his son, Jay Povlin; daughter-in-law, Louise Povlin; and grandsons, Jack, Jared and Joshua. He also is survived by his companion, Debbie Carter of Farragut, who was by his side for many years. His family is especially grateful to Debbie for her assistance and guidance through this difficult time.
Billy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Receiving of friends begins at 1 p.m, Saturday, Jan. 25, at Luff-Bowen Funeral Home, 2400 Hwy 13N in Waverly. The service will begin at 2 p.m. Interment to follow at Richlawn Cemetery in Waverly.
William “Bill” Dietzler, 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. He was born in Milwaukee on Aug. 2, 1937, to the late Marlon and Florence Dietzler and grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin.
He loved music, including playing songs on the organ and piano (even tuba when in school), singing in the church and barbershop choirs and dancing with his wife, Ardell.
Bill was a graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, (where he met Ardell) and served in the U.S. Army while in college. He was a lifelong Lutheran and volunteered in a variety of roles within the church his whole life. Bill grew up skiing, curling and fishing, while enjoying golf and racquetball later in life. He regularly played bridge and poker with friends, enjoyed telling jokes, traveling and spending time with his family.
Bill was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and enjoyed attending their activities and events. Throughout the year, he enjoyed cheering for the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers and UT Vols.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of nearly 64 years, Ardell; daughters, Christine Dietzler of Alpharetta, Georgia, Lori Dietzler (Kate Jones) of Atlanta and Jill Hardison (Derrick) of Roswell, Georgia; grandchildren, Jessica Howard (Caleb), Emily and Sarah Hughes, Joseph and Ella Hardison and Aaron Jones; great-grandchildren, Penelope and Pauline Howard; sister, Marilyn Schaler of Lynnwood, Washington; and sister-in-law, Virginia Dietzler of Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Dietzler.
The family would like to thank neighbors and friends Kadan Homecare and Agape Hospice for their tireless efforts in caring for him.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Roswell. The family will receive visitors following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or memorials in Bill’s name to Cross of Life Lutheran Church.
Dario Antonucci, age 100, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 25, at Parkwest Medical Center. Dario was born on March 9, 1924, in a mud brick farm house without running water or electricity in Calabria, Italy. His mother died when he was 10 years old and his father moved him and his sister to New York in 1937, a few weeks shy of his 13th birthday.
Knowing no English, he was placed in the fourth grade and five years later graduated from high school. One week after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Dario loved his adopted country and served as a sergeant in the 54th Fighter Patrol Squadron.
He was a radio operator/mechanic and trained aircraft controller. He was stationed in the jungles of Burma, guiding fighter planes, bombers and cargo planes of the “Hump” (the Himalayan Mountains) in the fight against the Japanese. He also served as a radio operator onboard the planes themselves.
Returning to the United States from overseas in February 1946, he found a long waiting list for full-time college. Undeterred, he attended college at night while raising a family and working in research labs during the day.
After 13 years of night school, he earned a degree in electrical engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He spent the next 30 years as an aerospace engineer working for Grumman Corporation (now Northrup-Grumman) and was Metrology section chief (chief of measurements) for the F-14, A-6, E-2C and the C-2 aircraft, as well as the Lunar Module vehicle that landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface.
Dario believed in hard work. He especially loved working with his hands. He was an avid gardener, opera buff, dog lover and devoted family man. He was a member of St John Neumann Catholic Church and active member of the Civitan Club. He had a kind and gentle spirit.
He was predeceased by his mother, Rosa Lecce Antonucci; father, Angelo Antonucci; sister, Julia Ferraro; and his beloved wife of 68 years, Annette Antonucci, who died in 2019.
He is survived by his three children, Richard Antonucci (Mary), Rosemary Calvert (Mark) and Daria Antonucci (Larry Travis); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Family will receive friends from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike in Farragut. Service will begin at 5 p.m, and a rosary service will be held after.
Family and friends will meet at 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 Gov. John Sevier Hwy., for a graveside service with military honors by Volunteer State Honor Guard and U.S. Army.
The family would like to thank the staff of Morning Pointe Westland for the love and kindness they showed Dario over the last four years. He truly considered them family. We also would like to thank UT Hospice and Ginger Maples of UT Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to your favorite charity.
