Bronston Boone

Bronston Leighton Boone, 86, retired plant manager for Spontex, died Monday, October 31, 2011 at his residence in Columbia. A graveside service will be conducted Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. at The Arbors at Polk Memorial Gardens with Rev. Joe Evans officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 3:00 - 7:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.The family suggests memorials to First Presbyterian Church Mission Fund, 801 South High Street, Columbia, TN 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com.Bronston was born November 9, 1924 in Somerset, Kentucky, the son of the late Benjamin Boone and Sallie Bogie Boone. There he attended First Christian Church and Somerset schools, graduating from Somerset High School in 1942. After graduation, Mr. Boone entered the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He left UT Knoxville to join our Naval Forces during World War II. He was stationed in Chicago, Illinois, Corona del Mar, California, and Corpus Christi, Texas. He trained to be an instructor in the new field of radar technology. After the war he returned to UT Knoxville, graduating with a degree in chemical engineering in 1948. In 1950 he joined the DuPont Company in Buffalo, New York, coming to Columbia in 1952 when DuPont opened its plant here. He worked with DuPont and its successor Spontex until his retirement in 1987 as plant manager.On September 10, 1957, in Bern, Switzerland, Bronston married Martha Greene, a teacher at Columbia Central High School. Together they raised four loving children. During these years, Bronston devoted himself to his family, looking after their needs and caring for their Victorian home in the Zion Community. He enjoyed restoring vintage MG cars, especially working with his sons.While the family was growing, Bronston was a Board Chairman and active member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In later years, he and Martha have been part of the fellowship of First Presbyterian Church.After retirement, Bronston and Martha enjoyed travel abroad, camping closer to home, and spending time with children, grandchildren, and friends.He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Martha Greene Boone of Columbia; four children Mark Boone of Richmond, Virginia, his wife Donise and their children, Kate and Ben; Carrie Boone Lancaster of Columbia, her husband Ed and their children, Boone, Leighton, and Emma; Michael Boone of Knoxville, his wife Aileen and their children Aidan and Helen; and Suzanne Boone of Nashville; one sister, Bennie Dean Bullock and her husband Lonnie; and four nephews, David Bullock, Robert Bullock, Alec Waugh and Brian Waugh.Bronston was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Catherine Boone and Anna Lee Boone Waugh.Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Fred Craddock, Dr. John Dixon, David Bullock, Robert Bullock, Brian Waugh and Alec Waugh.