Barbara Lane Painter, age 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 22, 2024. She was born in Chattanooga on August 1, 1930, the second of four children, to James Atlee Lane and Ethel Strickland Lane. After the family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, she attended and graduated from Oak Ridge High School.
Barbara truly loved life and lived it to the fullest. She was a superb homemaker and a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother. An active member of the John Ross Chapter of the DAR all of her adult life, she was the third of six generations within the family who were and are members of the same DAR chapter. Barbara was a long-time member of East Chattanooga United Methodist Church, making many lifelong friends during that time and more recently at St. John United Methodist Church. She sang in the church choir for over 50 years and was always active in her Sunday school class. A member of the Jenny Wren Garden Club for many decades, Barbara enjoyed designing and tending her flower gardens. She spent much of her time in the ‘70s and ‘80s volunteering at Parkridge Hospital, and she was a loyal supporter of various charities that were close to her heart.
She will be remembered for her gracious hospitality and bubbly, vivacious personality. She loved playing cards and games and hosting parties. Barbara’s guests looked forward to her parties, luncheons, and dinners; she had a different theme for each one and was known for decorating to the nines according to each theme, usually wearing an outfit to match. She truly was the life of the party! Barbara could prepare a delicious meal from anything she had in her pantry and was always known as a gifted cook who loved to try new recipes. She was multi-talented, excelling at embroidery and other artistic pursuits. Barbara loved to dance and she loved traveling the world. She was an avid moviegoer and was an all-around fun-loving person. As a grandmother and great-grandmother, she kept pace with the grandchildren, keeping everyone on their toes and having a wonderful time. She leaves us as one of the last of The Greatest Generation, and it was our honor to hear her stories of spending her teenage years in “the Secret City,” where she met her husband, George, at a dance. They danced together for more than six decades.
Barbara is preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, George W. Painter, Sr., brothers Barney Lane and J. Atlee Lane, Jr., sister Ethel, and her devoted partner Raymond Chambers.
Left behind to honor her memory are her son, George Westly (Wes) Painter, Jr. and daughter-in-law Emily; her daughter, Julia Morrison and son-in-law James; grandchildren Laura Kirk (Scott); Kristin Ross (Doug); Rachel Hodges (Nathan), Jordan Morrison (Jennifer); great grandchildren, Brenna McDaniel (Sean), Colin McCracken (Brooke), Connor Saxon, Ethan Saxon, John Kirk, Brianna Hodges, Caleb Hodges, Porter Morrison, Jack Morrison; one great-great grandson, Weston McDaniel, and many loved nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to Hearth Hospice, and to nurse Paula in particular, for their excellent care, and to the staff at Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove for their many kindnesses.
Visitation will be held at the Valley View Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home on Lee Highway on June 30 from 4 – 7 PM with funeral services at St. John United Methodist Church on Monday, July 1 at 11:00 AM.
Interment will be at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
