John Netterville Sr.

Dr. John Thomas Netterville, Sr, age 89, peacefully entered his eternal rest on 27 June 2020 at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents William M Netterville, Sr and Lottie Mae Keele Netterville and siblings Dorothy Netterville, Marie Burkhalter, Lottie Fowler, William Netterville Jr, Juanita Hammontree, and Benjamin Netterville. He is survived by his bride of 68 years Annie Ruth Netterville, sons John T Netterville, Jr, James L Netterville, J David Netterville, and J Paul Netterville, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.Dr. Netterville was born on 26 October 1930 in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended elementary, high school (he graduated when 16 years old) and college at David Lipscomb College (DLC) (now Lipscomb University) in 1951. He served as an Instructor in Chemistry at DLC from 1951 to 1953 and he taught science at David Lipscomb High School (DLHS) from 1951 to 1955. Called by his God to minister afar, he moved to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1955 where he did missionary work and taught in the public-school system for one year. Upon his return to Middle Tennessee in 1956, he resumed teaching at DLHS as Head of the Department of Science. In 1957 he received his Master of Education at George Peabody College. He moved across the campus to DLC as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1959. In 1961 he received his Master of Science from the University of Mississippi. DLC appointed him as acting Chairman of the Department of Chemistry in 1960. In 1964 he received his doctoral degree in analytical chemistry from Vanderbilt University and was made Professor of Chemistry and Chairman of the DLU Department of Chemistry in 1965, a position he served in until 1978. He left DLU and was elected Superintendent of Williamson County Schools in 1980. After one four-year term he returned to teaching science at Brentwood High School where he also coached golf and tennis. He retired from teaching in 1986.Dr. Netterville remained active after his teaching career. He co-authored eight college chemistry textbooks with over a twenty-five-year span. He held memberships in a number of civic and professional societies including the American Chemical Society, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The National Education Association, the Tennessee Academy of Science where he was editor of the Chemistry Journal, the Tennessee Science Teachers Association where he served one term as President, The Brucheum Group, and Sigma Xi. He served on the board of Nashville's Room in the Inn as chairman. In 1990 he was awarded the Arthur Crownover Citizen of the Year Award by the Nashville Area Civitan Club. He preached in a number of churches in middle Tennessee over the years with a long tenure at the College Grove church of Christ. After retiring from preaching he served as an Elder at Harpeth Hills church of Christ where he was a long-time member.Dr. Netterville enjoyed boating, fishing, Atlanta Braves baseball, Indy series racing, astronomy, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and Richland Harbor Estates on Kentucky Lake where he had a cabin for many years.In this new world in which we live, gathering for visitation and services seems unwise. In lieu of that, please visit the Dr John T Netterville, Sr Memorial page at https://bit.ly/3dLiWwp and leave a remembrance, encouragement, thought or photo. This would mean a great deal to his family to know what he meant to and how he impacted so many people. Essentially having a ‘visitation’ via Facebook. These will be memories that will last forever, and we don’t have to stand in line, wear masks or elbow bump.In lieu of flowers or memorials gifts can be sent to:
Lipscomb University Chemistry DepartmentGifts can also be made online https://ww2.lipscomb.edu/gift or checks earmarked as above can be mailed to:Lipscomb University
Attn: Advancement Office
One University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204-3951