Thomas Milton Batchelor's Obituary
Thomas “Tom” Milton Batchelor, 94, of Memphis, passed away March 24, 2016. Born in Calhoun City, Mississippi, he grew up on the family farm. He moved to the Los Angeles area when he was a teenager to live with his brother. Tom served over three years in the United States Coast Guard as a pharmacists mate and was stationed on board the U.S. Leonard Wood during WWII. Tom moved to Memphis in 1947 and met his wife of 59 years, Billie Jean, in his German class at Rhodes College. In 1954 he founded TMB & AAC Insurance Agency (later called Batchelor & Company Insurance) and was a founding board member of First American Bank. In the 1970’s he and Billie Jean turned their love of orchids into Orchids Alive Florist. He was very active in local and state politics and numerous civic organizations, but his greatest joy was serving his God with organizations like Memphis Union Mission, The Billy Graham Crusade and Second Presbyterian Church where he served in many capacities and was an Elder Emeritus. As co-founder and Director of Ministry to Men, he organized the annual Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast and “Maximum Man” conferences that were held in numerous cities all over the U.S. Tom is survived by his two sons, Don Batchelor (Susan), Dane Batchelor (Tracie); grandchildren, Keith Batchelor (Ashley), Elizabeth Calkins (Lt. Will Calkins), Daniel Batchelor (Stephanie) and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Billie Jean Pryor Batchelor; brothers, Claud Batchelor and Olen Batchelor, Sr. A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 28 at 3 pm at Second Presbyterian Church, the family will receive friends after the service from 4 pm – 6 pm at the church. The family request that memorials be made to Second Presbyterian Church or the ministry of donor’s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall.”
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