Thomas Willard Plank

Thomas “Willard” Plank was born on September 3, 1944.  By birth and by choice, he spent his entire 79  years contentedly living life in the Cedar Valley Community of Meigs County, Tennessee.  There in his home, early in the morning of Thursday, November 2, 2023, Willard breathed his last. He left the house he had built for himself years ago here on earth and took off to his mansion in Glory built by the Heavenly Father Himself!

Among the milestones in Willard Plank’s life were: his graduation in 1963 from Meigs County High School with classmates who remained close friends for life; his graduation from Tennessee Tech with a degree in agronomy in 1972; his marriage to Christine White in 1969; the birth of his sons, Chris in 1974 and Craig in 1976; and the succeeding births of grandchildren as time evolved.  Stints of employment as a teacher in Eastview Elementary, Cedar Valley, Fairview and Meigs High School followed his college career before Willard joined the workforce of Shaw Industries, just north of his house.  At Shaw, for the next 32 years, Willard worked among hundreds of folks and made lasting friendships with many of them.  He retired in the position of Shaw’s Human Resource Director.  On Willard’s last day at work, he simply cleared out his desk, bid farewell to his friends as he walked out the door,  got in his vehicle, and drove a couple of miles down the road to his home, to do what he pleased in retirement and be pleased with what he did.  And that, he accomplished.

Willard was straightforward, reasonable, kind hearted, and concerned about what went on around him.  He loved his wife, his children and grandchildren, his paired mule teams, his classmates of ’63,  his tractor, his dog Adi, “everything Meigs County” and he loved the Good Lord…not necessarily in this particular order.

Willard was a comedian without meaning to be one.  He was a “teller of tales” and never ran out of tales to tell.  He was a character whose interests were many and varied.  Throughout his youth and teenage years, he collected and stored a pile of logs to build a house of his own one day.  And he did it.

We all have our favorite holidays, like Christmas and Easter, Fourth of July and Valentine’s Day…but Willard got most excited when it got close to his favorite  holiday - “Mule Day”- over in Columbia, Tennessee, every year.  During his lifetime, he owned three teams of remarkably-paired mules that were his prized possession.  He had “bragging rights” among people who knew mule flesh and recognized a good-looking mule when they saw one.

Willard enjoyed collecting bicycles – some new and fine and some well past their prime, but all shined and polished and restored to working order.  When he got a good truck load, he would load up and haul the bikes  over to Muddy Pond.  The folks at Muddy Pond would put a finishing touch on the bikes and then  get them to a central location which would transport them overseas for children who would accept them with bright eyes and thankful hearts, knowing that somebody “out there” really cared.  And Willard did care…he really did…and those bicycles revealed a side of him that was uplifting to experience.

Willard respected his elders, took care of his family, earned a respectable reputation, lived harmoniously with his neighbors, minded his own business, worked hard, lived within his means, and brightened every group or project in which he was involved.  This man, Willard Plank, will be fondly remembered by many.  He leaves a void among us that will not easily be filled.

Carl and Melissa Plank, Willard’s beloved parents, preceded him in death.  Surviving him are his wife of 54 years, Christine (White)  Plank, his sons, Chris Plank of Decatur and Craig Plank of Hendersonville, Tennessee, his grandchildren, Bailey Ferguson and Sara Plank,  his godchild, Katie Fetter, and his brother, Owen (Shirley) Plank of Ohio.  Willard’s little Yorkie, Adi, will most assuredly miss his master’s lavish and frequent love and hugs.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Willard’s family will receive friends at Decatur Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  On Thursday, November 9, 2023, from 12:00 to 2:00, the family will receive friends at First Baptist Church in Decatur, where Willard was an active member.   The funeral service will follow the visitation, with Rev. Gerald Atkins and Rev. Jordan Metzger officiating.  Special music will be provided by Steve Miller.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Ledford, Wayne Perkinson, and David Lee Pierce.   Following the service, Willard’s body will be interred in the peaceful cemetery at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Jamey Davis Ministries, Pleasant Hill Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, Venmo, or the Meigs County Rescue Squad.  For your convenience, envelopes will be provided at the site.

Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services is honored to serve the Plank Family.