UNK Walter Hatcher

Obituary – DR. WALTER HATCHER, RETIRED DENTIST, COAL BUSINESSMAN DIES IN PIKEVILLE, Lexington Herald-Leader (October 13, 1994) by Staff

PIKEVILLE — Dr. Walter Trimble Hatcher Jr., a retired dentist, banker and coal businessman, died Tuesday at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was 78.

Dr. Hatcher practiced dentistry in Pikeville for 43 years, until his retirement in the mid-1980s. He was a former president of First National Bank of Pikeville. At his death, he was a member of the Bank One Pikeville board of directors.

His family leased out extensive acreage for surface mining in the area. Some Hatcher land was donated to construct the Pike County Airport Hatcher Field, which is named for Dr. Hatcher. He also had been a member of the airport board.

Dr. Hatcher, a Pike County native, was in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II and received a Bronze Star. He held a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, where he played basketball under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. Dr. Hatcher received his dental degree from the University of Louisville dental school.

He was a Rotarian and a member of First Presbyterian Church and professional organizations.

Surviving are his wife, Tola Annette Scott Hatcher; four sons, Walter Trimble Hatcher III of Colorado Springs, Colo., Don Scott Hatcher of Winter Park, Fla., and Phillip Layne Hatcher and H. “Frank” Hatcher, both of Pikeville; a sister; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today, and from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home in Pikeville.

Contributions are suggested to First Presbyterian Church or Pikeville College.

Local Leader Doc Hatcher dies Tuesday at age 78 Appalachian News Express (October 14, 1994) – by Allen Blair (Assistant Editor)

PIKEVILLE – Velma Childers remembers a time sitting in Doc Hatcher’s dentist’s chair, she was comforted just by his presence.

“To me, he was an institution, the kind of person you never thought was going to leave us, ” said Childers, a friend of Hatcher and local community leader herself.

“He wanted to leave the community much better than it was when he was growing up, and he did that.”

Dr. Walter Trimble hatcher Jr. of Pikeville died at 11:42 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1994, at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. He was 78.

He was born in Pike County in 1916, a son of the late Walter Trimble Hatcher Sr., and Lillian Whitman Hatcher.

After a “prominent” career as a businessman – he was a dentist for 43 years, coal operator, president of First National Bank and a Rotarian – Hatcher took o the Pike County Airport.

As administrator of the Trimble Hatcher heirs he was able to donate land and funds to the airport, which has more than doubled in size and operations thanks to him.

Pikeville attorney Will T. Scott, who will be a pallbearer Saturday, was raised around Hatcher and grew up with his children.

“He was a great man,” he said. “He was always very compassionate of his peers and the people of Pike County.

“And, something you can’t say about a lot of people these days, he was well respected. We’re all saddened by his passing.”

Velma Childers, whose family was also intertwined with Hatcher’s life, was saddened as well.

“I don’t think he ever met a stranger,” she said. “He had a smile and something good to say no matter what.”

Childers remembers just how compassionate Hatcher was, especially when families were in need.

“I know what it meant when he came to funerals of my family members,” she said.

“And even when he was busy in civic and business things he did, he always took time out to visit families.”

Wealth never changed him or his family’s personality either, Childers and Scott said.

“He would give to patients who couldn’t pay because he had a very generous heart.”. Childers said.

The wealth he accumulated, for he was a wealthy man, was always put to a good use, Scott said.

“He could put a nickel in his pocket and you’d never see it. He was very frugal with himself. But he wasn’t that way with people in need, his family or the public. He leaves quite a legacy. The quality and character of his children and family that are left behind speak well of him and we’ll miss him.”

He is survived by his wife, Tola Annette Scott Hatcher; four sons; one sister; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served at the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star.

He was a member of the Pikeville First Presbyterian Church and the Green Meadow Country Club and a friend to Pikeville College.

Funeral services are scheduled to be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, at the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Eddie Grigsby officiating and burial following in Johnson Memorial Park at Pikeville.

Visitation will be at J.W. Call & Son Funeral Home Friday from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.