Ted Wampler Sr., who co-founded Wampler’s Farm Sausage along with his parents in 1937, died Sunday, April 10. He was 86 years old.

“It is with heavy hearts we share that our founder, Ted Wampler Sr., passed away today. His influence on our lives and in our community will remain with us forever,” the company said in an announcement on its Facebook page.

Wampler started the sausage business with his parents, Riley and Edith Wampler. The business closed during World War II but started up again after the war.

“My mother ground pork into sausage by hand. At times dad butchered 11 hogs a day, beginning in November before refrigeration became commonplace, and sold it door-to-door, not from store-to-store, mostly in Lenoir City and Harriman,” he said in an interview with the Sentinel in 1982.

Wampler was a Korean War veteran. Additionally, he served as a justice of the peace, foreman of the Loudon County grand jury, chairman of the Loudon County school board and the Loudon County Vocational Governing Board, and was on the executive board of directors of the Loudon County Rescue Squad.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Frances, daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Ann and Edwin R. Blackburn; sons and daughters-in-law, Ted Jr. and Sherri Wampler, John Edd and Kathy Wampler; foster daughter Karen Hansen; foster son Borce Lazarov; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Lenoir City. Funeral services follow at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be Wednesday morning at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads Church of the Nazarene or the Child Advocacy Center.

http://www.clickfuneralhome.com/Obituary-Of-Ted-L.-Wampler/4173

Source: Wampler’s Farm Sausage, The Knoxville News Sentinel