Memorial Service For Former Rhea County Executive George Thacker Set Sunday
George Thacker
A memorial service for former Rhea County Executive George Thacker will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Rhea County High School auditorium. He was found dead in federal prison just weeks after beginning a sentence for fraud on the COVID relief.
He was the longest-serving county executive for Rhea County since the post began in the late 1970s.
He was born on March 13, 1963 in San Antonio, Texas to Clifton E. and Marie Thacker and was one of six children. He moved to Tennessee in the 1980s. He attended Roane County High School where he graduated “Most Talented” in his class of 1982. He then moved to Rhea County where he started Thacker’s Body Shop. He later opened five Express Lubes and started the Thacker Corporation, building the Spring City Mall, The Grand Hotel, Winstead’s Restaurant and Simply Bank.
He enjoyed playing the harmonica and played at various venues, including the Grand Ole’ Opry several times. He enjoyed helping others, including the Rhea County Fire Department, the Rhea County Rescue Squad and the Lighthouse Senior Citizens Center in Spring City.
“George loved this community and spent his life promoting Rhea County and helping to improve this area, especially Spring City,” it said. He was of the Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by his foster parents Poss and Ruby McCormick.
Survivors include his children April (Tony) Wesolowski of Havana, Florida and Gabe Hillyer of Kennesaw, Georgia; his brother Jimmy Thacker of Ocala, Florida; his grandchildren Jagger, River and Ava Wesolowski; and his dog “The Chairman”.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., with Rev. Bobby Harris. The family will receive friends from 1-3 PM prior to the service in the high school auditorium.
He was buried earlier in a private ceremony at Spring City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Rhea County Firemen’s Association. Donations can be dropped off at Linda Shaver’s office, 375 Church Street Suite 100, Dayton, Tennessee 37321.
Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of George F. Thacker’s arrangements and requests that friends share his condolences and memories with the family at its website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.
