Dr. John David Chandler, 90, passed away on December 29, 2018, in Paducah, Kentucky, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Decatur, Alabama, on August 18, 1928. He is deeply missed by family and friends.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, he had a life long love for the Crimson Tide football program. Chandler attended Tulane University Medical School and graduated in 1953. He served two years as a flight surgeon with Strategic Air Command. Following his tour, Chandler returned to Hartselle, Alabama, with his young family. He practiced general medicine for eleven years before he was accepted into a three year residency program in Radiology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. Following his residency, Chandler moved to Marshall County, Kentucky, and began Radiology practice in 1971— mainly at hospitals in Benton, Fulton, and Martin, Tennessee—where “Doc” was known as a brilliant diagnostician and a caring, compassionate doctor until his retirement nearly four decades later.
Beginning in his mid 40s, Dr. Chandler suffered several life-threatening cardiac events. In response, he radically improved his lifestyle: he followed a careful diet and engaged in intense exercise (he wore out three Nordic Tracs). He loved music and made many happy memories sharing it with others. He was also an avid reader; he had begun three new Kindle books at the time of his death. He had near perfect recall, which was often displayed in his penchant for story-telling, and a delightful sense of humor that always served him well. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed quail-hunting and wood- chopping, but his favorite pastime was to fish. He was fond of saying that the days a person spends fishing are not counted against the total allotted to him on earth. Dr. Chandler was of the Christian faith. At the age of 88, he fulfilled a desire to be baptized by immersion. He and his ten year old grandson, Thomas, were baptized one August afternoon by Brother Ricky Cunningham, in Hardin, KY.
He is survived by Anita Morgan Chandler, his devoted wife of 38 years, and seven children: John Chandler, Danville, AL; Nan Chandler Broughton, Mountain Brook, AL; Edward Chandler and wife Susie, Doyline, LA; Juliana J. Whitesell and husband Hunter, Fulton, KY; Christopher L. Easley, Hardin, KY; Phillip B. Easley, Benton, KY;and, Joanna L. Whitley and husband David, Gilbertsville, KY.
He was PaPa to 13 grandchildren, all of whom survive him: John Delaney Chandler and wife Mary, Crested Butte, CO; Don Chandler and wife Alison, Montpelier VT; Caleb Chandler, Birmingham, AL; Sara Van Hauen and husband Daniel, Mountain Brook, AL; Virginia Reeves and husband John, Montgomery AL; Lee Ashford Clapp and husband Brandon, Mountain Brook, AL; Benjamin Whitesell and wife Nicole, Fulton, KY; Elizabeth Whitesell Boston and husband Arthur, Murray, KY; Cassidy Easley, Hardin, KY; Virginia Easley, Mayfield, KY; Emma Easley, Murray, KY; Rubin Easley, Hardin, KY; and, John Thomas Whitley, Gilbertsville, KY, and 15 great-grandchildren: Levi, Finley, Sylvia, Maya, Violet, Thomas, Virginia, Mary Francis, Greer, Lillian, Benjamin,
Amelia, Henry, and twins, George and Annabel. He is also survived by two nieces, and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Nannie Chandler. Dr. Chandler was the youngest of seven children, all of whom preceded him in death, Nannie B., Mildred, Norma, Ruth, Francis, and Robert.
A memorial service will be held April 13 at Collier Funeral Home, in Benton, Kentucky. Visitation will begin at 12:30; service at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Salvation Army, PO Box 3189, Paducah, KY 42002-3189. The family is grateful to the staff of Superior Care Home for the exemplary care and loving kindness shown to their loved one during his time there.
