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Louis Barton Close
Close, Louis Barton Date of Birth May 15, 1927
Louis Barton Close, age 92, of Franklin passed away September 13, 2019. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Martha M. Close and his brother, William B. Close. Survived by son Louis Ward Close, MD and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Close and three grandchildren, Adam, Jennifer, and David. Their fondest memories are of going individually out west in their grandparents’ motor home. Mr. Close was the son of Clarence B. Close and Louise Bell Close and grew up in Nashville and initially attended Cohn High School. As a young man he studied violin and was first violinist in the Ward Belmont orchestra. His senior year he moved to Chattanooga and graduated from Baylor School. He attended Vanderbilt University for one year and then, during WWII, the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. He cruised the world as a midshipman on an oil tanker. Following the war, he married and lived in several locations in the Southeast while working first in manufacturing and later as a contractor and real estate broker. He served as president of the Home Builders Association of Tennessee in 1968. Not afraid to move or change jobs, he also owned a mobile home park in Knoxville and later moved to Harlingen, TX where he bought a grapefruit orchard and gift fruit business. Very social, he and Martha lived in golfing communities and had many friends. He was an early adopter of personal computers and a lifelong Apple enthusiast, often helping friends with computer issues. Able to retire relatively young, he and Martha covered the United States, and especially the west, many times in a series of motor homes. He was a lifelong Rotarian and was known for his intelligence and dry wit. He moved back to Tennessee in 2000 in order to be closer to family while caring for Martha, who developed Alzheimer’s late in life. He always had a dog, and the daily walks were a source of many new friends. He was a regular member of the Horace Edgmon Sunday school class at Franklin First United Methodist Church. His final year of life was spent in the loving care of the wonderful staff at Lakeshore Meadows, where he passed away peacefully. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mid-South chapter, www.alz.org/tn or the Williamson County Animal Control Shelter, www.adoptwcac.org There will be a visitation at the WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, (615) 794-2289 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 21 with interment following in the WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL GARDENS in a private family service.
Louis Barton Close, age 92, of Franklin passed away September 13, 2019. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Martha M. Close and his brother, William B. Close. Survived by son Louis Ward Close, MD and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Close and three grandchildren, Adam, Jennifer, and David. Their fondest memories are of going individually out west in their grandparents’ motor home. Mr. Close was the son of Clarence B. Close and Louise Bell Close and grew up in Nashville and initially attended Cohn High School. As a young man he studied violin and was first violinist in the Ward Belmont orchestra. His senior year he moved to Chattanooga and graduated from Baylor School. He attended Vanderbilt University for one year and then, during WWII, the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. He cruised the world as a midshipman on an oil tanker. Following the war, he married and lived in several locations in the Southeast while working first in manufacturing and later as a contractor and real estate broker. He served as president of the Home Builders Association of Tennessee in 1968. Not afraid to move or change jobs, he also owned a mobile home park in Knoxville and later moved to Harlingen, TX where he bought a grapefruit orchard and gift fruit business. Very social, he and Martha lived in golfing communities and had many friends. He was an early adopter of personal computers and a lifelong Apple enthusiast, often helping friends with computer issues. Able to retire relatively young, he and Martha covered the United States, and especially the west, many times in a series of motor homes. He was a lifelong Rotarian and was known for his intelligence and dry wit. He moved back to Tennessee in 2000 in order to be closer to family while caring for Martha, who developed Alzheimer’s late in life. He always had a dog, and the daily walks were a source of many new friends. He was a regular member of the Horace Edgmon Sunday school class at Franklin First United Methodist Church. His final year of life was spent in the loving care of the wonderful staff at Lakeshore Meadows, where he passed away peacefully. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mid-South chapter, www.alz.org/tn or the Williamson County Animal Control Shelter, www.adoptwcac.org There will be a visitation at the WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, (615) 794-2289 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 21 with interment following in the WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL GARDENS in a private family service.
