Obituary of Charles David Van Eaton

Dr. Charles D. Van Eaton, 79 of Hixson passed away Monday, July 20, 2015 at his residence. He was preceded in death by father, Leonard W. Van Eaton; mother, Lettisha C. Van Eaton; Daughter, Laurie L. Van Eaton-Pavlic; and brother, Lieutenant Colonel William Van Eaton, recipient of the Silver Star and Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam. Survived by wife of 58 years, Katharine (Katy) Jones Van Eaton; Daughter, Valerie L. Van Eaton of Nashville; Daughter, Charlotte R. Bishop of Hixson; Son, Dr. W. David (Rebekah) Van Eaton of Hixson; Granddaughter, Katharine E. Bishop-Burdette of Hixson; Grandson, Nathanial Bishop of Austin, TX; Granddaughter, Lauren Van Eaton of Hixson; Granddaughter, Maddie Van Eaton of Hixson; Grandson, Harrison Van Eaton, of Hixson; Great-Grandchildren; Laurena Burdette. Evan Burdette. And Ryan Burdette, all of Hixson, brother, Leonard E. Van Eaton, Attorney-at-Law, Memphis, TN; Sister, Vera (Dr. Thomas J) Friddell of Nashville. Dr. Van Eaton attended Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, TN (now Freed-Hardeman University), where he majored in Biblical Studies, The University of Memphis where he graduated with honors in Economics and Political Philosophy, and Tulane University where he received the Ph.D. in Economics. Before becoming R.C. Hoiles Professor of Libertarian Studies and Chairman of the Department of Economics and Business Administration at Michigan’s Hillsdale College, from 1978-1998, he taught at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 1967-1970 and Western Kentucky University of Bowling Green, Kentucky, 1970-1978. Following his work at Hillsdale, he joined the new Graduate School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA where he held the John M. Olin Chair in Economics. Following his retirement and move to Hixson, he enjoyed four years of productive association with Bryan College in Dayton, TN where he served as Distinguished Professor at Large and Director of the Bryan Center for Public Policy at Bryan College in Dayton, TN. During his years at Hillsdale, Pepperdine, and Bryan Dr. Van Eaton was an active publisher of more than 1,500 newspaper articles on current issues in economics and public policy in newspapers ranging from the Orange County (CA) Register; the Los Angeles Daily News; The Detroit News; the Detroit Free-Press, The Hillsdale News, the Washington Times, and the Chattanooga-Times Free Press, among many others. In the area of public service he served two full terms on the Nursing Home Administrative Board for the State of Michigan by appointment of Governor John Engler. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan; Founding member of the Board of Academic Advisors of the Heartland Institute in Chicago and as chief economist for the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce Foundation through which he served as a consultant to numerous Michigan towns and cities on way to use market competitive-contracting tools to reduce costs and expand public services.. He enjoyed the opportunity to study, write, teach and publish many articles and monographs for many clients in the public and private sector, including a number of issue-specific studies on the Michigan Single-Business Tax, and Michigan Health Insurance System, and the Public Finance System for the City of Detroit, Michigan. But Economics was just the way he earned his living. Bible study and teaching was the way he found his life. He served seven years as pulpit minister of the Willow View Church of Christ in Memphis, TN before entering Tulane University, seven years in a similar capacity while on the faculty of Western Kentucky University for the oldest Church of Christ congregation in Warren County, KY, and fourteen years with the West Street Church of Christ while at Hillsdale College. Since shortly after their arrival in Chattanooga, Dr. Van Eaton and Katy have made their church home at the Central Church of Christ on downtown Vine Street where he was blessed to be able to teach the Wednesday night adult Bible class which met in the auditorium. A memorial service will be at 11 A. M. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Central Church of Christ. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Central Church of Christ, 200 Vine Street, Chattanooga, TN or Boyd-Buchanan School, 4650 Buccaneer Trail, Chattanooga, TN 37411. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Please share your memories, stories and photos at www.legacyfuneralhome.com.