Reverend Byron E. Minter, age 98, formerly of Crandall, GA, passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Martin Boyd Christian Home in Chattanooga, TN. Rev. Minter was born April 6, 1925 in Emerson, GA to Will and Gladys Arnold Minter. He married his sweetheart Virginia Walker on January 25, 1943 in Altoona, GA. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943 and was posted on the destroyer USS Hopewell in the Pacific theater of operations for his entire term of service in World War II. While participating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands in February 1945, having previously fought off Japanese kamikaze attacks, the USS Hopewell received fire from Japanese shore batteries during the Battle of Corregidor. Seventeen of Rev. Minter's fellow sailors lost their lives that day. He remembered and spoke of those men for the remainder of his life. Rev. Minter was ordained as a minister in the Church of God of Prophecy and began pastoring in 1957. He pastored many churches across the state of Georgia from as far north as Rossville to as far south as St. Marys. At many of those churches, using his construction knowledge, he physically built church buildings and parsonages. He had a heart for Youth Camp ministries, serving in many capacities in that ministry for decades. In retirement (he retired three times, returning to the ministry each time he was called), he was a member of Central Community Church in Chatsworth. Rev. Minter had a passion for the outdoors, with gardening, fishing and hunting being among his favorite activities. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 73 years, Virginia Walker Minter; his parents, Will and Gladys Minter; his daughters Glenda Salmon and Wanda Minter; his brothers William Earnest, Doyle, Bill, Gerald, and C.L. Minter; his sister Beverly Thornburg; and his sisters-in-law Pat Minter and Marilyn Stephens. Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Barry and Dianne Minter of Chatsworth, GA, Rev. Terry and Kathy Minter of Memphis, TN, and Frankie and Kay Minter of Powder Springs, GA; daughters and sons-in-law, Joy and Jock Ellis of Cumming, GA and Cindy Minter and David Perry of Chattanooga, TN; brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Bobby and Minnie Minter of Crandall, GA; and sister-in-law Margaret Minter of Woodstock, GA; brother-in-law Rev. Benford and Mary Beth Walker of Winston-Salem, NC; grandchildren and spouses Ty Hutcheson, Judge Scott and Melissa Minter, Chad and Donna Hutcheson, Rev. Cazden and Cammie Minter, Jessika and Shane Dearing, Landyn Minter, Molly Ellis and Russell Denney, and John Ellis; great-grandchildren Dustin, Colin, and Conner Dearing, Cheyenne Osborne, Cody Hutcheson, Cannon and Callie Hutcheson, Laura and Leah Minter, Whit, Nealie, Hattie, and Augie Minter, and Walter Denney; great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services to celebrate the life of Rev. Byron E. Minter will be held on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 4:00 pm at the chapel of Dalton Funeral Home with State Bishop Billy Adams and Rev. Edwin Puckett officiating. The family will receive friends at Dalton Funeral Home on Monday, June 12, 2023 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm prior to the service. Interment will be on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Central Community Church, Chatsworth, GA Youth Camp ministries fund. Dalton Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Rev. Byron E. Minter. Dalton Funeral Home, 620 S. Glenwood Ave. Dalton ,GA 30721; 706-529-5371. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LIVE STREAM THE SERVICE: https://player.memoryshare.com/memoryshare/video/revbyron-minter-8079353