---

Dunbar Bedford "Ted" Pless

Dunbar Bedford \"Ted\" Pless

Dec. 3, 2012

Dunbar Bedford \"Ted\" Pless, 64, of Athens, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012.

Though small in stature, he had a big heart filled with love for his family and friends. His dry sense of humor and his gracious nature will be remembered by those who knew him.

A native of Knoxville, he was the son of the late Dunbar M. and Floy Bowling Pless and was preceded in death by one brother, Brady N. Pless; one sister, Linda Gill Jewett; one sister-in-law, Nancy D. Gill; one niece, Patti Stewart Griffin; and his father-in-law, J. Bruce Kennedy.

He attended Sequoyah Elementary School and Tyson Junior High in Knoxville and was a graduate of St. Andrews School in Sewanee. He graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College with an accounting degree.

He served his country from 1969 to 1972 on a submarine tender in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed primarily in Rhoda, Spain and Guam, and enjoyed reminiscing about his travels to different parts of the world.

He was formerly employed at Magic Chef in Cleveland and Athens Furniture, but had retired in 2007 after 19 years of service at Bowater working in the lab and finishing and shipping departments.

Running was his passion for many years, and many knew him not by name, but as the little gray-haired man with a moustache who ran on Highway 11 in Riceville. He was a former member of the Knoxville Track Club.

He had a talent for fixing things, especially things of a mechanical nature. He had restored several antique cars and gas pumps, and was a former member of the Mid-South Hudson Club.

He was a member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher, and was also a member of Sewee Church of God.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Winona Kennedy Pless of Athens; one daughter, Julia Pless of Athens; his mother-in-law, Nelda M. Kennedy of Athens; one brother, W. Hoyl Gill and his wife, Beverly, of Knoxville; one sister, Nancy Pless Stewart of Largo, Fla.; three nieces, Mary Elaine Gill Haden of Atlanta, Ga., and Bella and Reagan Pless, both of Knoxville; and nine nephews, Travis Pless, Joshua Pless, Brady Pless and Ben Gill, all of Knoxville, Robert Stewart of New York, Jay, John and Jeff Donaldson, all of Atlanta, Ga., and Joseph Donaldson of California.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Smith Funeral & Cremation Services with the Rev. Dennie Humphreys, the Rev. Linda Parton and the Rev. D.C. Kirk officiating. Burial will follow in Sewee Cemetery with military honors.

Pallbearers will be Mike Pitcock, Don Schultz, Melvin Harper, Bo Perkinson, Mike Nichols, John Forgety, Travis Pless and Joshua Pless. Honorary pallbearers will be Keith Thompson, Steve Heath, George McCollum, Bart Daughety, Myron McCleary and Ed Kyker.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1, Athens, TN 37371-0001; Sewee Church of God Permanent Cemetery Fund, County Rd. 225, Niota, TN 37826; McMinn County Education Foundation, Adult and Family Education of McMinn County, P.O. Box 2, Athens, TN 37371-0002; or a charity of your choice.

If you are unable to attend this service or visitation, sign the guest register at www.jerrysmithfuneralhome.com

Smith Funeral & Cremation Services of Athens is serving the family of Dunbar Bedford \"Ted\" Pless.