Wesley Biddle Notgrass

Mr. Wesley Biddle Notgrass, 92, longtime resident of Columbia and former employee of The Daily Herald, died Monday, March 19, 2007 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with John Vaughan officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 2 - 4 p.m. at the funeral home. The Maury County native was the son of the late Earl Eugene Notgrass and Maggie Pearl Hendley Notgrass. He attended Andrews School and graduated from Central High School in 1933. He became a newscarrier for the Herald in 1928 and eventually became circulation manager. After serving in World War II, he returned to work at the Herald and became a typesetter, from which position he retired in 1981. Mr. Notgrass served in the United States Army for four years during World War II. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service as well as ribbons for five European campaigns. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 for over 62 years.Mr. Notgrass did lay preaching in the Methodist Church for many years and also taught adult Bible classes both at Riverside United Methodist Church and later as a member of Graymere Church of Christ. He moved from Columbia in 1999 to live with his son Ray, first in Cookeville and then, since 2004, in Gainesboro. Mr. Notgrass married Joan Kathleen May Clark of Bristol, England on April 19, 1945. She preceded him in death on July 1, 1975. On September 1, 1978 he married Christine Douglas Fowler who preceded him in death on January 7, 1999. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Adrian, who died in infancy in 1971. Survivors include two sons, Ray (Charlene) Notgrass of Gainesboro, Alan Clark (Shirley) Notgrass of Estill Springs; three step-sons, Al (Gayle) Fowler of Germantown, Lee (Carol) Fowler of Cary, N.C., Doug Fowler of Lawrenceburg; ten grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one step-great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Chris Notgrass, Austin Notgrass, John Notgrass, Brad Clark, Daniel Notgrass, Darrin Puckett, Matthew Wilhelm and Steve Boyd. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Russell, Tim Brown, Lance Reynolds, Gerald Martin, Brent Fowler, Bobby White, Joe Hendley and Jack Hendley.