1918
Ruskin
2004
Ruskin Alexander Vest
May 5, 1918 — March 3, 2004
Mr. Ruskin A. Vest , 85, a resident of Canaan Road near Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, March 03, 2004 at his home.
Funeral services for Mr. Vest will be conducted Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant with Dr. Bill Thrasher and Randy Kersey officiating. Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.
The Mt. Pleasant native was the son of the late Solomon Alexander and Emma Bailey Vest. He was a graduate of Hay Long High School and attended Georgia Institute of Technology for two years before entering the Army Air Corps in 1941 where he was a navigational instructor. In 1945 he left the army as a lieutenant to return to work in Mt. Pleasant at Victor Chemical Works. He married Melba Robinette on May 24, 1947. Later he and Will C. Robinette purchased Thompson Diary in Mt. Pleasant which they operated until 1958 merging into Jersey Pride Creamery. He then went to work at Industrial Products Company, Inc., a rockwool manufacturer and fiberglass distributor, where he was eventually president and owner. He remained active in the business. He was also owner of Southeastern Shirt in Mt. Pleasant and Southeastern Pant in Centerville. He was a cattle farmer and an avid outdoorsman. Being active in community affairs, he served as a director on the Maury County Hospital Board and Director for the Middle Tennessee Bank. He served as city commissioner for Mt. Pleasant, was president of First Utility Gas Company in Mt. Pleasant, and served on the Maury County Airport Board. He was a member of the Main Street Church of Christ.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Eleanor John Ball Howard of Edisto Island, S.C.; a son, Ruskin A. ?Rusty? Karen Vest, Jr. of Columbia, TN; a sister, Sarah Wilhite of Bolivar, TN; five grandchildren, Ruskin A. ?Zan? Vest, III, Rachel Elizabeth Vest, Margaret Anne Vest all of Columbia, TN, Sarah Ethel Howard and John Ball Howard, Jr. both of Edisto Island, S.C.; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William Lewis Vest.
Pallbearers will be Hunter Robinette, Justin Robinette, Richard E. Wilhite, Larry Wilhite, Dr. Jerry Wilhite, Harold Wilhite, Dr. Frank Wilhite, Kenneth Weiss, and Earl Bentz.
Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Industrial Products, Inc.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Dr. Janice Vinson and Cardiology Unit at Maury Regional Hospital, staff of Maury Regional Hospital, Dr. Robert Bain, Dr. James Barr, Dr. Jim Marshall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Columbia Academy 1101 West 7th Street Columbia, TN 38401 or Hospice of Highland Rim 2014 Elmer Pogue Dr. Columbia, TN 38401.
Funeral services for Mr. Vest will be conducted Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant with Dr. Bill Thrasher and Randy Kersey officiating. Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.
The Mt. Pleasant native was the son of the late Solomon Alexander and Emma Bailey Vest. He was a graduate of Hay Long High School and attended Georgia Institute of Technology for two years before entering the Army Air Corps in 1941 where he was a navigational instructor. In 1945 he left the army as a lieutenant to return to work in Mt. Pleasant at Victor Chemical Works. He married Melba Robinette on May 24, 1947. Later he and Will C. Robinette purchased Thompson Diary in Mt. Pleasant which they operated until 1958 merging into Jersey Pride Creamery. He then went to work at Industrial Products Company, Inc., a rockwool manufacturer and fiberglass distributor, where he was eventually president and owner. He remained active in the business. He was also owner of Southeastern Shirt in Mt. Pleasant and Southeastern Pant in Centerville. He was a cattle farmer and an avid outdoorsman. Being active in community affairs, he served as a director on the Maury County Hospital Board and Director for the Middle Tennessee Bank. He served as city commissioner for Mt. Pleasant, was president of First Utility Gas Company in Mt. Pleasant, and served on the Maury County Airport Board. He was a member of the Main Street Church of Christ.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Eleanor John Ball Howard of Edisto Island, S.C.; a son, Ruskin A. ?Rusty? Karen Vest, Jr. of Columbia, TN; a sister, Sarah Wilhite of Bolivar, TN; five grandchildren, Ruskin A. ?Zan? Vest, III, Rachel Elizabeth Vest, Margaret Anne Vest all of Columbia, TN, Sarah Ethel Howard and John Ball Howard, Jr. both of Edisto Island, S.C.; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William Lewis Vest.
Pallbearers will be Hunter Robinette, Justin Robinette, Richard E. Wilhite, Larry Wilhite, Dr. Jerry Wilhite, Harold Wilhite, Dr. Frank Wilhite, Kenneth Weiss, and Earl Bentz.
Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Industrial Products, Inc.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Dr. Janice Vinson and Cardiology Unit at Maury Regional Hospital, staff of Maury Regional Hospital, Dr. Robert Bain, Dr. James Barr, Dr. Jim Marshall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Columbia Academy 1101 West 7th Street Columbia, TN 38401 or Hospice of Highland Rim 2014 Elmer Pogue Dr. Columbia, TN 38401.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruskin Alexander Vest, please visit our flower store.
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