Vergil “Hap” Lendon Saine, age 94, of Manchester, died August 31, 2014 at United Regional Hospital, Manchester, TN.
A native of Manchester, he was the son of the late Alfred Forbes and Bertha Morehead Saine.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Winifred, and older siblings – five sisters, Lucile Cheatham, Lillie Aldridge, Lena Saine, Lila May Pope, and Mozelle Pate, and two brothers, Clarence Price Saine and Harry Alfred Saine. All were graduates of Coffee County Central High School.
Vergil, best known as “Happy” or “Hap”, is survived by his two sons, Stephen F. Saine (wife, Diana) of South Carolina and Jerome G. Saine (wife, Kathryn) of Manchester; three granddaughters, Cynthia Saine Gaines, Marjorie Saine Marcus and Erin Saine Terry; one grandson, Travis Gene Saine; three great granddaughters, Lauren Reece Terry, Jenna Grace Saine and Addison Brooke Marcus; and two great grandsons, Carter Neal Terry and Chandler Gene Saine. Hap’s extended family was always most important to him.
He was an outstanding husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
After graduating from Coffee County Central High School in 1938 as valedictorian, he continued his education at Lincoln Memorial University and the University of Wisconsin, earning a PhD in Chemistry. His career included 30 years managing operations that developed and produced munitions and propellant products for the military during World War II and the Cold War with Russia. He also taught Chemistry for 5 years at the University of Wisconsin and as Head of the Chemistry Department at Lincoln Memorial University. After living in five different states while in industry, Vergil and Winnie retired to his home town of Manchester in 1980. They became members of his boyhood First United Methodist Church. He also served as Executive Director of the Coffee County Industrial Development Board from 1981 – 1985. He served as a member of the State Rehabilitation Training Board and was its Chairman for several years. He was a member of Manchester Rotary Club, serving as President for 1984/85. He appreciated the Manchester Times publishing, under the heading of People Memories, his 140 articles on memories of teachers, classmates, neighborhood families and special citizens of Coffee County.
The funeral will be held Friday, September 5th at the Central Funeral Home.
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 105 N. Church Street, Manchester, TN 37355.
VISITATION
Friday, September 5, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, Tennessee
FUNERAL
Friday, September 5, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home Chapel
OFFICIANT
Reverend Randall Brown
BURIAL
Manchester City Cemetery
CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements