Col. David Orville Compton, age 86 of Germantown died Saturday November 4, 2023. He was a native of Nashville and was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip Compton, and Nellie Compton.
Mr. Compton grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and attended college at Tennessee Tech University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was President of the Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Campus Ministry. He continued his education at Emory University School of Theology where he received the Master of Divinity Degree. During his military service, he continued his studies at the graduate level eventually receiving a Masters Degree in Religious Education and a third Masters Degree in Management Technology.
Mr. Compton served as a chaplain while in the Army. In addition to one-on-one counseling, which is one of the primary roles of a military chaplain, he received extensive training in group dynamics and did a great deal of group training. During his 21 years in military service, Compton and his family made more than 20 moves as he served chaplaincy functions on military bases all across the United States, as well as stents in Vietnam and Europe. After his 21-year military service, Compton retired at the rank of Colonel and moved to Memphis to assume a position at Methodist Health Care as Deputy Director of Training and Development. Later he worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as Head of Training and Organizational Development.
Mr. Compton was the Volunteer Lead for the SAF (Service to the Armed Forces) activities for the Mid-South Chapter. In this role he maintains information in the SAF database on new military recruits that is provided by the Military Entrance Processing Station in Memphis.
Mr. Compton was in charge of heading up the Mid-South Chapter’s “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program, which contributes hand-made holiday cards to be distributed to military service members during the Christmas Holidays.
Mr. Compton was member of DAT (Disaster Action Team) Captain for the Mid-South Chapter. In this role he serves as the primary go-to person every Monday for local emergencies in which families are displaced from their homes.
Mr. Compton is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggie Compton; daughter, Amy Dodson and husband Mark; son, David Orville Compton, Jr and wife Mary Katherine; grandchildren, Emily Frisby and Andrew, Jack Dodson and wife Liza, Sarah Collis and husband Colin, Great-grandchildren, Matilda, Clark, James, Owen; sister, Anne Williams and husband Dr. Robert Williams.
A graveside will be at a later date at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Pegram.
