Jack A. Upchurch

Jack A. Upchurch, 87, passed away at his home, December 20, 2017. He was born in Chattanooga, TN on February 11, 1930 to Owen Franklin Upchurch and Sarah Katherine Flannary. Jack retired from the United States Postal Service after almost twenty years of delivering mail to Kingsport residents. Prior to this he proudly served his country for 21 years in the United States Air Force as a flight crew chief and served in Vietnam. His love of air flight began at an early age as he worked to earn rides from a traveling air show pilot. He obtained his pilot's license and bought a Stearman biplane in his 20's, performing loops and snap rolls in the skies over Kingsport. He earned his FAA airframe mechanic certification and made airplanes his career. After retirement he enjoyed the friendship of the pilots at the Hawkins County Airport from where he flew family and friends around East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. His last flight was May 13, 2017 in a WWII T-6 aircraft. He was a gunsmith, a furniture maker and a carpenter like his father, building several houses in Kingsport. He was always willing to help family and friends with a building or repair project, teaching them something along the way. He was a member of Sunnyside Baptist Church, served as an usher and a member of the Auditorium Sunday school class. He was a former member of Temple Baptist Church. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Sarah Upchurch, his wife and mother of his children, Peggy Ann Smith and his sister Jeanette Green. Jack is survived by his wife of 32 years, Phyllis Shortt Upchurch; daughters, Karen Moore, Carol Masoner and Lori Upchurch, step-daughter Susan Wobbe and husband Thomas; sisters Bobbie Bishop and husband Joe and Lois Watson and husband Ray; sister-in-law Fay Rutherford and brothers-in-law Carl Shortt, Charles Shortt and wife Mary, Joe Shortt and Marvin Shortt; nephews Barry Green and wife Carol and Dennis Green and wife Joy; grandchildren Amanda Masoner, Alicia Masoner, Sarah Moore, Garrett Moore and wife Skylar, Matthew Moore, Lily Wobbe and Elise Wobbe; greatgrandchildren Airyana Bays and Corena Cross; and many close friends. The family will receive friends at 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, December 22, 2017 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 7 pm with Dr. Roy D. Graves officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1pm on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at East Lawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be family and friends. A special thanks to Dr. Christopher Neglia for his dedication to the comfort and care of his patients. Memorial contributions can be made to Sunnyside Baptist Church Building Fund, 406 Cooks Valley Road, Kingsport, TN 37664. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Upchurch family