Donnie Ray Foutch - WJLE Radio

December 13, 2021

Donnie Ray Foutch, 75, of Old Hickory, TN, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2021 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee, after a courageous battle with cancer that deemed him a fully disabled veteran of the Vietnam War.

Donnie was born on July 28, 1946 in Liberty, TN to Leon and Robbie Hayes Foutch. He grew up as the youngest sibling in a family of tenant farmers. Their house had no air conditioning or plumbing. Heat was provided by one coal fireplace in the family room, and Donnie’s glass of water would often freeze on his nightstand as he did homework under the covers. From an early age, Donnie was taught how to raise chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, and vegetables. His father and brother trained him to hunt, fish, trap, and survive. He was also in the last generation taught how to plow with a mule.

The family was not rich in money but was rich in so many other ways. Donnie went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, crowded into a 1953 Chevy after a spit bath by his Mama. When he was 11 years old, he was called to faith in Jesus during a large revival meeting. He accepted Christ the next day in the middle of a tobacco patch and was subsequently baptized in the creek.

When Donnie was at Liberty High School, it merged with DeKalb County High School, and Donnie met some new friends who inspired him to apply to college. He also met Jeanne, who soon became his best friend and wife. As true soulmates, they did everything together, and, over the next 54 years of marriage, they were rarely seen apart from one another.

As Donnie and Jeanne were finishing their college education at Tennessee Technological University, Donnie joined the Army Reserved Officer Training Corps and proudly served his country in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Bronze Star.

After the war, Donnie and Jeanne settled in Nashville. Donnie worked for a large CPA firm and Jeanne worked as an office manager. This arrangement continued until Robin was born, when Jeanne became a full time mother and supporter of Donnie in his career. He served as an accountant at a major CPA firm, chief financial officer of an international construction firm, and finally CFO for a publicly traded company.

Donnie enjoyed traveling, fishing, golfing, gardening, and, most recently, birding. He loved spending time with his family and making friends with just about everyone he met. He was an active member of Tulip Grove Baptist Church and served as a deacon. He and Jeanne were able to travel to over 40 countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, Brazil, and 20 different islands. Some trips were for work, some for mission trips, and some just for adventure. He is thankful to God Who directed his steps along the way.

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeanne, his only child, Dr. Robin Mahlow (Dr. Jeremy Mahlow), his three grandchildren Eleanor (14), John (12), and Oliver (11), and his grand-dog Daisy Fluffy-Paws Mahlow. He is also survived by his brother, Joe Foutch (Mainell Malone Foutch, deceased), his sisters Jean Fite (Charles Fite, deceased), Judy Farler (Kenneth Farler), and Janet Flanagan (Russell Flanagan), ten nephews, one niece, and many more great nephews and nieces.

The family will receive visitors Friday, December 17th from 4-8 pm at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Old Hickory, TN, and again Saturday, December 18th from 9-11am at Tulip Grove Baptist Church. A service will be held at 11 am December 18th at Tulip Grove Baptist Church with Pastor Gerald Bontrager officiating. Interment with military detail will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Donnie Foutch may be made to the Paideia Academy of Knoxville, a classical Christ-centered school which Eleanor attends
(https://paideiaknoxville.org/support/), or to Tulip Grove Baptist Church of Old Hickory, TN.

Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2229 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com.