Anthony Edward Dortch

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 Tony’s absence leaves a big ol’ hole, but our comfort is knowing he is in the presence of Our Saviour, and we will see him again soon, with a whole and healed body. Tony was looking forward to, “I’m just gonna stare at Jesus.” What a blessing to know that this is not Tony’s ending, but rather the beginning of his best part!

Anthony Edward Dortch was born in Greenville, Kentucky on April 7, 1957, the youngest of three children to Walter and Ellen Dortch, born again April 3, 1967, baptized in the Green River and went home at 67 years of age on December 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas, with family singing over him and surrounding him in love.

As a young boy, Tony loved fixing things. He enjoyed bringing home broken lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners and fixing them to sell. He quickly graduated to fixing cars and worked at an auto mechanic shop to hone his skills. His car passion was Corvettes and he got such a kick out of flipping cars to afford an upgrade to his personal driver and also to
help provide transportation for others.

Tony enlisted in the Air Force in 1978 and served four years as an air traffic controller. While in the Air Force he earned his bachelor’s degree in air traffic control and later he earned a master’s degree in test engineering. Tony worked at Redstone Arsenal designing and overseeing the testing of helicopters.

Tony has always been an active member of his local church and served in many capacities including Royal Ambassador’s teacher, Upwards’ basketball coach, van driver and maintenance guy, and choir member. In his spare time, he tinkered with cars, spent time training our dog, enjoyed vegetable gardening, jet skiing on the Tennessee River, travel, and spending time with his loves. He was very disciplined with his health long before it was popular and mostly only ate clean, whole foods and stayed fit by training for and running marathons, or riding his bicycle almost every day for the past 40 years.

Tony’s greatest gift to us was his ability to nurture relationships. He called his friends and family regularly and really knew how to love people well. He was not an outspoken man but in quiet humility he lived his life serving others.

Tony is survived by his wife, Sara Beth, his three children, Starr Bartlett (Chris), Erin and Brandon Dortch. Poppa D and Poppy is survived by his grandchildren, Kaden, Anlyn, and Maeli Givens, and Kayleigh Dortch, bonus children, Elaine Smith, Taylor, Charles J., and Faith Creel, bonus grandchildren, Eli Ditto, Milli Duke, and Fitz Smith, his siblings, Larry Dortch (Jody), Judy Decker (Dannie), nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Tony is predeceased by his mom and pa, Ellen and Walter Dortch.

A Celebration of Life service will honor Tony on January 4, 2025 at First Baptist Meridianville, AL, with public visitation from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm and a service at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Tony's honor to The Gideons International or First Baptist Meridianville Guatemala Missions.

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