Obituary of Clarence Wayne Veach

Clarence Wayne Veach, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones on June 4, 2025. He was 79 years old. Everything about Wayne was centered around his family, and there was nothing he looked forward to more than organized or pop-up gatherings with his children, grandkids, cousins, nieces and nephews, and their families and friends, who he treated with the same warmth, love and dry sense of humor. If there was something happening in the family, Wayne was there, using his keen mind and wit to entertain with stories, provide a caring ear to listen and offer sage advice for those who needed it. As anyone who knew Wayne would tell you, he always put others first. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for anyone, whether family, friend, neighbor, co-worker or someone wise enough to ask him, and would travel far and wide to help those who needed it. He was often referred to as the smartest person in the room, and the list of people he helped and mentored during his life is too long to begin to put together, and Wayne would never have been interested in making such a list anyway. He was a gentle and humble servant, and the most dependable man any of us knew. He was born in Nashville, where he attended Hume Fogg Vocational Technical High School and met his wife of 58 years, Linda, who never left his side. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in electrical engineering and membership in Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu Association, and later earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University. His professional pursuits represented his thirst for learning and wide-ranging interests. He was a recording engineer in the music industry, designed and improved microwave ovens, electrical timers and outdoor lighting, and has several patents to his name. After stints with various international companies and brands, he retired from the Intermatic company in 2018 after 21 years, having served as vice president of product development and later vice president of sales and marketing. He rounded out his career at Intermatic by combining his knowledge of the electronics manufacturing industry and expertise in fires and their causes and became a Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator and Intermatic’s director of risk management. In “retirement,” he continued to consult on cases through 2024. Wayne was also heavily involved in the communities in which he lived. Very dear to him, and where he made many lifelong friends, was his involvement as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with departments in Louisville, KY, Minneapolis, MN, and with the Bellevue Volunteer Fire Department, where he served for 10 years. When the Nashville suburb grew large enough for the Nashville Fire Department to service it and the volunteer organization ceased to exist, he was instrumental in using the funds from the sale of their equipment to establish the BVFD Scholarship Fund for college-bound descendants of BVFD members and the Bellevue community at large. Many aspiring students have benefited from this scholarship fund over the last four decades. In addition to his own volunteer interests, he made his children’s interests his interests. He was involved in the PTA at their schools and scouting in three different councils. With his daughters, Laura and Pam, he was in adult leadership with Cumberland Valley Girl Scouts for eight years and was on staff for council Jamborees. With his son, Tim, he was a leader with the Middle Tennessee Council of Scouting America for 10 years, then six years with the Northeast Illinois Council where he was a Scoutmaster, adult leader, advisor and attended a Philmont Trek in New Mexico. He also found great joy and pride in attending his children’s sporting events and performances of all kinds and those of his grandchildren. He was a man of many talents, especially involving music. He played several instruments, but loved the drums the most and could often be heard delivering precise beats in (somewhat) muffled rooms in his home. In his younger years, he was the drummer in a few bands, most notably a six-member band that played “gigs” throughout the state and beyond – “The Chessmen” had a devoted following that he always recalled fondly and were part of many cherished family stories. He continued to produce music throughout his life, balancing it with a passion for riding motorcycles (he was a member of the Patriot Guard Riders), a back-and-forth battle with the game of golf and an interest in all things medical-related. Later in life, he was committed to watching police shows while relaxing at home, usually with his dog Chip in his lap and informing his family about what he’d seen. He was a lifelong learner and could find interest in anything and everything. He could also fix just about anything, was the family’s in-house plumber, electrician, woodworker and general Mr. Fix It. He even fully designed and partially built one of the Veach family’s homes. Wayne’s loss leaves a massive hole in the family that can only be filled with wonderful memories, the comfort in the positive impact he had on so many and his gift of overflowing love for those around him. Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Fred Sr., and Margaret Gladys Huffman Veach, and his five older siblings, Margaret Veach Cullen, Fred Veach Jr., Charles Veach, Lou Ella Veach and Joe Veach. He is survived by his wife, Linda Shelton Veach (Smyrna, TN), and his three children Laura (Doug) Patterson (Smyrna, TN), Pam (Chad) Schmidt (Franklin, TN), Tim Veach (Smyrna, TN); and four grandchildren, Jake Hughes, Brooke (Clay) Cochran, Emerson Schmidt and Mary Clark Schmidt. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Alive Hospice: 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203; www.alivehospice.org. The Veach family invites you to celebrate Wayne’s life on June 28, 2025, at Murfreesboro Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 145 Innsbrooke Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN, 37128 with a visitation from 2 to 4 p.m., and Celebration of Life at 4 p.m.