Burton Daimwood

View Funeral Webcast Willis Burton Daimwood, 80, gospel minister, farmer, retired educator, and resident of Hilltop Drive, died Saturday, May 23, 2009 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at Graymere Church of Christ with Steve Blackman officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to Ephesus Church of Christ, c/o Wayne Voss, 3473 Murphy Lane, Columbia 38401 or a charity of choice. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Born September 7, 1928 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Henry and Sara Hardison Daimwood. A 1946 graduate of Columbia Central High School, he earned a B.A. Degree from David Lipscomb College and an M.S. Degree from Vanderbilt University. During the Korean War, he served in the U. S. Air Force as a Ground Control Approach Operator. His working career included a wide-range of experiences and fields, beginning as a radio announcer in Nashville. He later pursued a path in the field of education. This journey began as a speech pathologist for the Maury County School System, later spending a number of years as an instructor at Columbia Military Academy. His education career culminated after serving as guidance counselor at Culleoka, Mt. Pleasant, Whitthorne, and Central. Beside education, he had a life-long passion for both farming and preaching, continuing with both specialties until his last days. For 60 years, he was a devoted gospel preacher, serving the past 40 of those years as minister for the Ephesus Church of Christ. Mr. Daimwood also served as a deacon of Graymere Church of Christ for a number of years. Active in civic and community affairs, he was a former member of the Columbia Civitan Club, serving as President and Valley District Lt. Governor; the original Maury County Horsemen's Association, serving as Show Chairman and President; Sons of Confederate Veterans; and the Civil Air Patrol. Mr. Daimwood was a Boy Scout Master and received the Long Rifle Award from the Middle Tennessee Council. He was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, given to individuals who have made an impact with a dynamic address that promotes engaged citizenship and the "American Way of Life." Besides love of his family, a few of his many other interests included aviation, livestock, collector cars and tractors, genealogy, photography, history, and aviculture. While physical limitations made his life a little bumpier than others, his ability to never complain or even vent about life's frustrations coupled with his "can do" spirit will forever serve as an inspiration to his family. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Rebecca Gregory Daimwood of Columbia; daughter, Dawn (Kenneth) Stewart of Columbia; son, Gregory Daimwood of Columbia; grandchildren, Laura (Josh) Watson of Murfreesboro and Burton Stewart of Columbia; great-grandchildren, Baker Watson and Caleb Burton Watson of Murfreesboro; sister, Fay Daimwood Stokes of Dickson; sisters-in-law, Betty Turner and Sadie Billingsly, both of Nashville, and Will Neil (Exum) Watts of Murfreesboro; and many nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers are Burton Stewart, Josh Watson, Greg Watts, Jim Nicks, Wayne Voss, and Randy Wright. Honorary pallbearers include Exum Watts, Lucien Simpson, Shannon Tilley, James Burrell, Duke Gregory, Ken Gregory, Jim Gibson, Billy Brimm, George Brazil, Ernest Allen, Bill Beard, Jim Cranford, Ken Harris, Tony Ingram, Pete Ridley, William Tankersley, Billy Truelove, Charles Vaughn, Jim Voss, Roscoe Voss, and the Columbia Central High School Class of 1946 Lunch Group.