Robert Franklin Hager

Robert Franklin Hager, 93, of Kingsport died on Saturday, March 5, 2011, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.

The son of the late Frank and Hattie Hager, he was born in Franklin, Nebraska, December 29, 1917. Mr. Hager attended the University of Nebraska. During WWII, his first tour of duty with the US Navy was in the South Pacific. He then was sent to Raleigh, North Carolina, for Naval training on diesel engine maintenance. While in Raleigh, he met and married Frances Pegram in 1945. They were in San Diego where he was preparing to ship out again when the war ended. Returning to Raleigh, he graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from North Carolina State University, teaching Diesel Engineering during his undergraduate studies. In 1947, he accepted employment with Tennessee Eastman Company in Kingsport, retiring from the Purchasing Department in 1980 after 33 years of service.

Mr. Hager was a long-time member of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, where he once served as a Deacon and served as part of the Stephens ministry. His favorite pastime activities were golf and ball room dancing, serving many years with the Senior Golf league and being a regular at most area Senior dances.

Mr. Hager was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Frances Pegram Hager. Also preceding him in death were his brothers, Alfred, Don, and Bud and his sister, Frances.

He is survived by his daughter, Sharron Austin and husband, Roy, of Sun City, South Carolina; his son, Robert Hager, Jr., and wife, Pam, of Kingsport, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Walt Coleman of Charlotte, North Carolina; Sarah Coleman Wilson of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Robyn Hager of Greenville, South Carolina; three great-grandchildren, Sam, Jon, and Jorja Coleman of Charlotte, North Carolina; a special friend, Mary Ruth Jeffers of Johnson City, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends Monday from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport.

A funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. J. Thomas Phillips officiating with burial to follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Walt Coleman, Roy Austin, Michael Wilson, Tyler Campbell, Dwight Lane, and Walter Cassell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, 213 Colonial Heights Road, Kingsport, TN, 37663; or Mt. View United Methodist Church, 4405 Orebank Road, Kingsport, TN, 37664.